NFL Rumors: Sean Payton's Broncos Expected to Hire Former Saints OC Pete Carmichael

Sean Payton and Pete Carmichael will reportedly reunite with the Denver Broncos.

According to Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com, the Broncos are expected to hire the former New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator as a senior offensive assistant. Payton, who is the current Broncos head coach and former Saints head coach, was the one who initially hired Carmichael in New Orleans in 2006.

Carmichael was an offensive assistant for the Cleveland Browns, Washington and San Diego Chargers before he was hired as the Saints' quarterbacks coach. He was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2009 and held that role for the past 15 years.

It didn't take long for him to find success, as the Saints won the Super Bowl in his first season as offensive coordinator with quarterback Drew Brees leading the way. That was one of eight playoff appearances during his tenure as offensive coordinator.

While many of those offenses were among the best in the league, that hasn't been the case of late for the Saints.

They missed the postseason the last three years and finished 28th in the league in yards in 2021, 19th in 2022 and 14th in 2023. Yet Payton is familiar with Carmichael and is giving him an opportunity to help lead a turnaround for the Broncos.

Denver went 8-9 in 2023, which was Payton's first year as head coach and the second season for quarterback Russell Wilson in the AFC. There are questions about whether Wilson will be released this offseason, especially after Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported in December he was expected to be cut in March.

That could allow Payton and Carmichael to build a new offense after the Broncos finished 26th in the league in yards in 2023.

Denver has the No. 12 pick in the draft and could look to bring in a rookie or turn toward a veteran in free agency.

How it addresses the quarterback situation could set the tone for the 2024 campaign, but there will at least be a familiar coach working alongside Payton during that decision-making process.