Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Sean Payton quickly asserts authority in Denver

By Clark Dalton | Last updated 2/7/23

New Broncos head coach Sean Payton made it clear he's the boss in Denver, not Russell Wilson or his personal quarterback coach.

According to ESPN's Jeff Legwold, Wilson had a personal QB coach — Jake Heaps — and other support personnel last season, but his group will exit promptly, per Payton.

"That's not going to take place. I'm unfamiliar with it. Our staff will be here. Our players will be here. That will be it," Payton said in a Monday news conference.

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Payton, Super Bowl XLIV champion coach, asserts control early because it develops a clear organizational hierarchy.

Outside influences like a personal coach can hinder an organization by undermining the HC's authority, especially if it involves the franchise QB.

"That's basically turning over your QB, your system or whatever you're doing to someone else. And he doesn't want any individuals to feel they're bigger than the team," former Saints RB Deuce McAllister told Sean Keeler of the Denver Post.

When an individual overshadows the team, it creates a distraction and becomes a problem if he struggles.

That happened with the Broncos last season. Expectations for Wilson were so high that it placed the attention on him and prevented the team from forming cohesion, possibly leading to the 5-12 tumble.

A separate staff for Wilson exacerbated the issue because it isolated him more.

Removing the personal staff might ensure that Wilson and the team maintain a tight bond to help Payton avoid another Denver disaster.

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