Sean Payton to Urban Meyer: NFL coaches who parted ways from teams in 2021-22

Sean Payton is stepping down as the New Orleans Saints coach, a person familiar to the situation told the Associated Press. His name adds up in the long list of coaches who parted ways with their team, some due to performance and some because of off-field issues. 

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Here is a list of big names that will not continue with their teams in the 2022 NFL season:

1) Sean Payton (New Orleans Saints): After spending 15 years with the outfit, leading the team to its only Super Bowl win, the 58-year-old Payton leaves his first and only NFL head coaching job with a 152-89 regular-season record – and nine playoff appearances — in 15 seasons. 

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The Saints made Payton a first-time head coach in 2006, when he oversaw a stunning turnaround in the franchise’s first season back in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. The club had been displaced from the city during the entire 2005 season, going 3-13.

2) Urban Meyer (Jacksonville Jaguars): In his first season as the coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Meyers was fired for his activities off-field.  The coach allegedy kicked former kicker Josh Lambo during warm-ups during a pre-season game. He had also not flown with the team after an away game and a video of him with his hand on the hip of a younger woman at a bar went viral. 

“After deliberation over many weeks and a thorough analysis of the entirety of Urban’s tenure with our team, I am bitterly disappointed to arrive at the conclusion that an immediate change is imperative for everyone,” team owner Shad Khan said in a statement.

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“I informed Urban of the change this evening. As I stated in October, regaining our trust and respect was essential. Regrettably, it did not happen.”

Meyer ended up going 2-11 with the team. 

3) Vic Fangio (Denver Broncos): The team fired their head coach after a six-year playoff drought and a half decade of losing seasons. Fangio went 19-30 over three years with the Broncos, including 7-10 this season despite having one of the easiest schedules and the highest-paid defense in the league.

4) Mike Zimmer (Minnesota Vikings): Minnesota Vikings fired general manager Rick Spielman and coach Mike Zimmer after a second straight absence from the playoffs for a 61-year-old franchise still seeking its first title.

5) David Culley (Houston Texans): After his first season as NFL head coach, David Culley was fired. His side recorded 4-13 this season, concluding with a 28-25 loss to Tennessee, the AFC’s top playoff seed. The move left the league with one Black head coach: Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin