Sean Payton was one of multiple NFL coaches who were fined for COVID-19 policy violations. The COVID-19 protocols were strict in 2020. Coaches were watching their team play from their basement due to exposure, and there were locker-room outbreaks regularly that would postpone games or leave players with significant holes on payday.
Some teams were better at protocol adherence than others. Payton was one of the coaches that got slapped with a $100,000 personal fine, costing the New Orleans Saints an additional $250,000 fine for not keeping his mask up over his nose during Week 2 of the 2020-2021 season.
Is Sean Payton Avoiding Paying COVID-19 Fines?
There was a possibility that Payton simply forgot about the fine. There was a lot happening during that season, and it wouldn’t be impossible that the penalty fell through the cracks. That was until ESPN quotes Payton as telling John Gruden that he had never paid the fine and letting the former Las Vegas Raiders coach know, “You’re the only (expletive) that paid the fine.”
ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. and Seth Wickersham also reported that Payton alleged other coaches had not paid their fines. It’s unclear which coach he was referring to. There were far too many coaches who struggled with wearing their masks properly in 2020.
COVID-19 Coaches Fines Around the League
Four other coaches were fined for improperly wearing their masks as well. Gruden’s face mask slipped regularly during the Week 2 game against the Saints. Gruden apologized for the facial-covering faux pas and paid his fine.
Former Broncos head coach Vic Fangio, Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan were also fined for mask mistakes.
Although all three coaches were contrite about their mistakes, there is no clarity on whether or not they paid up for their penalties. It’s unclear why the status of these fine payments has not been reported.
Somehow Bill Belichick avoided the fines despite ripping both of his masks off during a game during the season to go off on the referees for what he felt was a problematic play call. Maybe he escaped the fine because the NFL agreed with him about the call.
Is This a Pattern for Payton?
Payton could be feeling a bit salty about his COVID-19 penalty fines. His suspension without pay for a year in 2012 due to the Bounty Gate Scandal likely left a bad taste in the now-Denver Broncos head coach’s mouth. Losing $6 million and being the first and only coach to be suspended could make a person feel that way.
