NFL Coaching Rumors: Latest Reports on Sean Payton, Chuck Pagano

With the 2015 NFL regular season drawing to a close on Sunday, teams that underachieved might not just be looking for changes on the field. Some big moves could be made on the sidelines as well, with head coaches around the league feeling the pressure of Black Monday looming. 

Here are the latest reports on the statuses of some head coaches around the league. 

Sean Payton

Since their Super Bowl XLIV win, the New Orleans Saints have not made it out of the divisional round. In fact, they've recorded three losing seasons in the last four years, which made head coach Sean Payton's job status a topic of discussion for most of this year.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, via Mike Triplett, the Saints will give Payton permission to speak with them about open positions around the league. 

Payton is under contract through the 2017 season (via Spotrac.com), which means the Saints would have to be compensated by whichever team the coach agrees to go to. By simply firing Payton, New Orleans would come away with nothing. 

Per Schefter, via Triplett, Payton will meet with general manager Mickey Loomis on Monday to discuss his future with the team. 

After Sunday's game, though, Payton wasn't letting anyone know what he was thinking, via WDSU's Fletcher Mackel:

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported that Payton is already garnering plenty of interest even though his time in New Orleans isn't exactly up just yet: "Assuming Colts part ways with Chuck Pagano, they'll think big on coaches. Expected to make Nick Saban [and] Sean Payton say no before moving on...If the 49ers make a move, worth noting: Last year, a person close to Sean Payton made it known he'd consider the SF job if he was free."

The 49ers did indeed make a move, firing head coach Jim Tomsula on Sunday night. Schefter reported that the interest for Payton could be there:

At the end of the day, though, this all comes down to what the Saints want. If Loomis wants Payton gone, he is going to try to get the best possible return for him. Head coaches have brought in a varying return in these situations, according to Triplett.

In 2002, John Gruden was dealt from the Oakland Raiders to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for two second-round picks and $8 million, while Herm Edwards was worth just a fourth-round pick in 2006 when he was traded from the New York Jets to the Kansas City Chiefs. 

If the Saints are looking for a complete rebuild, they would need a nice haul for Payton's services. 

Chuck Pagano

The Indianapolis Colts haven't experienced a losing season since a disastrous 2-14 2011 season. Yet head coach Chuck Pagano is on the hot seat after an 8-8 2015 saw the Colts miss the playoffs. 

According to NFL Network's Michael Silver on Sunday, team owner Jim Irsay had not decided Pagano's fate, but he is likely to be fired. 

If Silver's sources are correct and Pagano is indeed axed, it's a tough way to go. Pagano was 40-23 in four seasons with the Colts , including this 8-8 season in which the team used five different starting quarterbacks. 

Before this season, the Colts showed improvement in each of Pagano's first three years. They advanced one round deeper into the playoffs, peaking in an AFC Championship Game appearance in 2014 where they were dismantled by the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.

Pagano's leash was even short last season, though. According to Fox Sports' Jay Glazer, the Colts would have considered firing Pagano had Indianapolis lost in the divisional round. 

Regardless of how talented a roster is surrounding the quarterback position, it takes quite a coach to keep a team afloat with that kind of turmoil under center. Pagano's team realized that, too, per the Indianapolis Star's Zak Keefer:

Punter Pat McAfee took to Twitter to express his gratitude for Pagano:

For a coach that has done nothing but win with some semblance of a healthy roster, Pagano should have no problem finding another job if he goes. Add the fact that he seems to be a player's coach that can keep a locker room together and he won't be unemployed for too long. 

Stats courtesy of NFL.com