The NFL’s Coach of the Year finalists were announced this morning, and the omission of Sean Payton immediately sparked backlash across Denver.
As Predominantly Orange noted, despite guiding the Broncos to the AFC’s No. 1 seed and an appearance in the AFC Championship Game, Payton was not named a finalist.
This was a decision many fans and local media quickly labeled a “snub.”
DNVR’s Zac Stevens called it a “big-time snub,” while longtime Broncos writer Sayre Bedinger didn’t hold back.
Big-time snub.
“Sean Payton not being a finalist for NFL Coach of the Year is an atrocity,” Bedinger wrote on social media.
He added, “The award is an absolute joke… Hilariously bad process. Hilariously bad coverage.”
That sentiment echoed throughout Broncos Country.
Frustration has been simmering all season as Denver continues to feel overlooked on the national stage.
The official five finalists for Coach of the Year are Ben Johnson, Liam Coen, Mike Macdonald, Kyle Shanahan, and Mike Vrabel.
While they’ve all had amazing seasons in their own right, Payton’s snub feels difficult to justify given what Denver accomplished.
Sean Payton’s Turnaround in Denver
The frustration isn’t difficult to understand.
Just two seasons ago, the Broncos finished 5-12.
Before Payton’s arrival, they did not have a winning season since 2016 and did not make the playoffs since winning the Super Bowl in 2015.
Since hiring Payton, the franchise has undergone a dramatic transformation.
Denver finished the regular season 14-3, secured the AFC’s top seed, and reached the conference title game.
They did all of this while navigating significant injuries throughout the season.
Perhaps most notably, the Broncos captured the AFC West for the first time in over a decade, ending the Kansas City Chiefs’ nine-year reign atop the division.
Payton’s impact has extended beyond wins and losses, as multiple assistant coaches from his staff are now drawing interest around the league for head coaching and coordinator openings.
Payton has reshaped the entire culture and turned the Broncos into a legitimate Super Bowl contender in a remarkably short window.
He has accomplished all of this, yet his name was still left off the Coach of the Year ballot.
Broncos Still Finding Recognition Elsewhere
While Payton was overlooked, Denver hasn’t been completely shut out of league-wide recognition.
Linebacker Nik Bonitto earned Defensive Player of the Year consideration after a breakout season with 14 sacks.
Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is also a finalist for AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton showed nothing but class after their nominations:
“I am super excited for them. They are two great candidates”
Despite the recognition, most of the attention has been on Payton’s snub.
Bedinger didn’t hold back:
“How is it possible that Sean Payton is not even a finalist for this award?” he questioned.
“Again, he’s on the cusp of accomplishing something that’s never been done in the history of the league. And he’s gotten the Broncos to this point despite the largest dead cap hit in NFL history from Russell Wilson.”
For many in Denver, Payton’s omission feels like a continuation of the trend that the Broncos have been disrespected all season.
Despite all of their success this season, the Broncos continue to be overlooked nationally.
Time and again, they’ve entered big games as underdogs and walked away proving them wrong.
Entering the AFC Championship as another major underdog without Bo Nix, Payton’s snub is another source of bulletin board material for the Broncos.
NFL Voters Send Disrespectful Message to Broncos, Sean Payton