Sean Payton was a quarterback at Naperville Central High School and Eastern Illinois University and played professionally in 1987 and 1988. He began his coaching career as offensive assistant for San Diego State University and had several assistant coaching positions on college and NFL teams before being named as the tenth full-time coach in Saints history in 2006.
Payton has always been known for his offensive prowess having scored more points (2,804) and gained more yards (40,158) than any other team in a coach's first 100 games in NFL history (as of 2021). Under Payton's leadership the Saints made the 2006 NFL playoffs after a 3–13 season in 2005 and advanced to their first NFC Championship appearance in franchise history. Because of this effort, Payton won the AP NFL Coach of the Year Award. Following the 2009 season, the Saints won their first Super Bowl championship in franchise history.
Since joining the Saints as Head Coach he has helped guide the team to three NFC Championship games (2006, 2009, and 2018), and an appearance in Super Bowl XLIV.