Thursday night’s game marked a historic moment for Sean Payton as he stepped onto the field as the head coach of a team playing against his own New Orleans Saints. Leading the Denver Broncos to a victory, Payton joined an elite group of coaches who have achieved victories against all 32 teams in the league.
In a postgame press conference, Payton reflected on his accomplishment, acknowledging the rare feat he had achieved. “It means you’ve had two jobs,” Payton remarked when asked about joining the likes of coaching legends such as Bill Belichick, Tony Dungy, John Fox, Mike Holmgren, Bill Parcells, Andy Reid, and Mike Shanahan in this exclusive club. The coach mentioned that the topic had come up in conversation recently, and while he doesn’t typically dwell on such statistics, he expressed his gratitude for the opportunity.
Meanwhile, Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy finds himself just shy of this milestone, with victories against 31 teams under his belt. However, McCarthy has yet to lead his current team to victory against his former team, the Green Bay Packers. The two teams are not set to face off in the regular season, meaning a potential meeting in the playoffs could expand the coaching fraternity of those who have conquered every team in the league.
The achievement of coaching victories against all 32 teams is a testament to the long and distinguished careers of these head coaches. Each victory represents a unique challenge and a testament to their skills as leaders on the gridiron. As the NFL season unfolds, fans will be watching to see if any other coaches can join this exclusive club of coaching excellence.
