Sean Payton adds another ex-Saints player to coaching staff
Sean Payton adds another ex-Saints player to coaching staff
The Denver Broncos announced additions (and promotions) on Sean Payton's coaching staff on Thursday, and the list of new hires includes a former player.
It's no surprise as Payton has a history of helping ex-players transition to coaching. After playing under Payton as an offensive lineman with the New Orleans Saints, Zach Strief got his start as a coach in New Orleans before following Payton in Denver.
Payton also hired ex-Saint safety Chris Banjo right after he retired, and Payton brought in ex-NFL quarterback Davis Webb immediately after he hung up his cleats. It wasn't his first coaching job, but former center Austin King also joined Payton's staff in 2023.
The trend of hiring ex-players continued with the Broncos' latest round of hires as the team hired former Saints fullback Zach Line as a special teams quality control coach.
Line (34) played fullback for seven years in the NFL, including a three-year stint under Payton from 2017-2019. After hanging up his cleats, Line returned to his high school alma mater, Oxford High School in Michigan, where he served as a head coach.
After reaching the playoffs in four of his five years at the high school level, Line is now jumping to the NFL, reuniting with Payton. He will look to follow in the path of Strief, Webb, Banjo and King, who have all received promotions since joining Payton's staff.
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