A Denver columnist just tossed gasoline on the NFL’s coaching-salary conversation.
After multiple reports indicated the New York Giants are finalizing a blockbuster deal for former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh – potentially worth up to $100 million over five years – Denver sportswriter Troy Renck argued that Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton’s next contract should start around $25 million per season.
Renck also added that it’s “time” for Broncos general manager George Paton to get paid too, regardless of how the season ends, pointing to the difficulty of building while carrying massive Russell Wilson dead-money charges in recent years.
Why John Harbaugh’s Giants deal matters for Sean Payton
The key detail: Harbaugh’s incoming Giants contract is being reported as a five-year pact that could reach $100 million, which would put the annual value in the $20 million range (or more, depending on structure).
That number matters because Payton already entered Denver as one of the league’s highest-paid head coaches. Back when the Broncos hired him, reporting pegged Payton’s contract in the neighborhood of $18 million per year on a five-year deal.
Renck’s argument is simple: if Harbaugh is now clearing $20M annually in New York, a proven, high-profile coach like Payton could reasonably aim higher on his next negotiation, especially if Denver’s win trajectory keeps trending up.
What it means for the Broncos and George Paton
One reason Renck framed this as a Broncos issue (not just a league-wide payroll flex): the organization has been working through the financial wreckage of the Russell Wilson era.
When Denver moved on from Wilson, the Broncos took on a historic $85 million dead-money hit spread across two seasons, per ESPN’s reporting at the time, money that restricts roster flexibility and forces smarter, cheaper roster building.
Renck’s point: if the Broncos are stacking progress while navigating that kind of cap pain, both Payton and Paton have ammunition for future raises, because winning (or even staying competitive) under those conditions isn’t easy.
Key details to know:
- Giants/Harbaugh: reports say up to 5 years, $100M
- Payton’s current Denver deal: widely reported around 5 years, ~$18M/year
- Broncos’ Wilson dead cap: $85M over two seasons after release
What happens next
Nothing changes overnight. Coaching contracts don’t hit the salary cap the way player deals do, and teams often keep exact terms private. But Harbaugh’s reported $20M+ benchmark is the kind of market reset that can ripple.
If Payton keeps Denver in the playoff mix (or better), Renck’s suggested $25M-per-year target becomes the kind of number that starts showing up in national reporting and offseason “highest-paid coach” lists. Surely, a No. 1 seed in the AFC and a return to prominence is worth it for the fans, but will be a telling sign how the Broncos and Payton negotiate when the time comes.
For the Broncos, it also creates an awkward-but-real parallel pressure point: ownership could be staring at expensive decisions not only for star players, but for the two most important people running the franchise’s football operation.
If the Harbaugh deal becomes official with firm terms, the next story is “Where Sean Payton ranks among NFL’s highest-paid coaches, and what it means for a Broncos extension timeline.
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