The Indianapolis Colts were on a head coach expedition before signing Chuck Pagano to a four-year extension deal Monday, as reports state the team was also interested in New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton.
In reports by ESPN and the Terre Haute Tribune Star, it was mentioned that the Colts were having talks with Payton while negotiating with Pagano for the extension deal.
This season is Pagano's first with the Colts that he failed to bring them to the playoffs after three consecutive post-season appearances.
In the 2012 (Pagano's first season with the Colts) , 2013, and 2014 seasons, Pagano helped Indianapolis to 11-5 records, reaching as far as the Wild Card Playoffs, Divisional Playoffs, and the American Football Conference (AFC) championship game respectively.
However this season, the Colts ended with an 8-8 record only to finish second in the AFC South behind the playoff-bound Houston Texans (9-7). Because of the failure to guide them to the playoffs, Pagano's job as the head coach of the Colts was in question but all those were erased with Monday's extension.
But since reports are now surfacing that the Colts had interest in Payton, it seems like the organization had thoughts of replacing Pagano although it did not materialize.
Along with the Colts, the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers are also reportedly looking to have Payton as their head coach.
Both the Eagles and 49ers fired their head coaches in the 2015 season after failing to reach the playoffs.
But as ESPN mentioned in its report, trying to have Payton will be hard since he is still under contract with New Orleans for two more years.
If a team tries to hire him, they must have a "compensation arrangement" with the Saints before he can leave the organization.
The Miami Dolphins are also reportedly interested in having Payton as their head coach.
