While it seems like a lifetime ago in the minds of Dolphins fans, Miami’s historic 70-20 victory over the Denver Broncos took place less than three years in the past — September 24th, 2023, to be exact. Since that game, the two teams have gone in opposite directions — with Denver an ankle injury to quarterback Bo Nix away from making last year’s Super Bowl, and Miami beginning yet another rebuild attempt this offseason.
While Dolphins fans have fond memories of that 70 point offensive outburst, at least one person doesn’t recall that day being quite as pleasant for him and his squad — Broncos’ head coach, Sean Payton. In fact, Payton apparently has so much disdain for that day, he reportedly concocted a villainous plan to exact revenge on the Miami Dolphins, their fanbase, the entire organization’s history, and their beloved former head coach — the deceased Don Shula.
Advertisement
Shula holds the NFL record for most wins by a head coach with 347 victories to his name. Coming in second on that list is former New England Patriots head coach, Bill Belichick — as he sits just 14 games behind Shula with 333 victories.
In an article published by ESPN’s Seth Wickersham on Tuesday morning, Payton allegedly had a demented plan to step aside at the beginning of the 2024 season and have Denver hire Bill Belichick as the team’s head coach after he and New England parted ways following the 2023 NFL season. Once the former Patriots coach won 15 games — giving him the record for most wins by an NFL head coach — Payton would resume his duties as the team’s head man in charge.
“When Belichick and the Patriots divorced in 2024, Payton considered presenting Broncos owner Greg Penner a proposal for the ages: Hire Belichick as head coach until he reached 15 wins, enough to break Don Shula’s career record of 347. Payton would temporarily step down to assistant head coach and run the offense, then move back after Belichick became the all-time leader. In the end, it was too complicated — and maybe too fanciful.”
Man… the Dolphins really did some meaningful damage to Payton’s ego, huh?
Ultimately, Belichick did not get another head coaching gig at the professional level, and instead, took a job with the University of North Carolina ahead of the 2025 college season — going 4-8 in his first season with the school.
Advertisement
While Payton’s plan never came to fruition, it goes to show the insane lengths some men are willing to go to in order to exact revenge on those he feels have scorned him. Regardless, as of today, Miami’s Don Shula remains the winningest coach in NFL history, Bill Belichick (and his youthful girlfriend) is entering his second season as the Tar Heel’s head coach, and the vindictive Sean Payton is hoping to get his squad to a Super Bowl before his team gives a big money extension to his young, brittle boned quarterback, Bo Nix.
Read the full article here