After an exhaustive two-week search, Mickey Loomis arrived at a crucial decision for the future of the New Orleans Saints on the evening of Jan. 16, 2006.
Two days later, Loomis and the late Saints owner Tom Benson formally introduced Dallas Cowboys assistant Sean Payton — a disciple of Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells — as the 14th head coach of the Saints.
At that moment, no one in a city and region that were still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Katrina could have even dreamed of what was to come.
But there was hope, certainly.
When the 42-year-old Payton walked into the room at the training facility in Metairie that afternoon, it was his first day as a head coach at any level of football.
“You want to be in a position where you think you can win,” he said that day. “I’m looking forward to that.”
“I believe today we have hired a head coach that has what it takes to bring a championship to this city,” Loomis said, “a city and a fan base that is very deserving of a championship.”
It still wasn’t hard for media and fans to wonder what the Saints were getting in their next coach. That sentiment didn’t last long.
After immediately acknowledging how tough 2005 had been on the area and the Saints organization, Payton set his sights on the monumental task he faced after nine seasons as an NFL assistant and nine seasons in the college ranks.
“I hope in some small way the effort of this team in 2006, and beyond, will represent this city and region well and show the country New Orleans is back and a team to be reckoned with in the NFC South,” he said.
It turned out to be a match made in Who Dat heaven.
New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton announces he is stepping down during a press conference at the Saints' indoor practice facility Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, in Metairie. After 16 years with the New Orleans Saints, having led the franchise to a cathartic Super Bowl win and having authored some of the most explosive offenses in NFL history, Payton is walking away on his terms.
Payton made the Saints a force to be reckoned with right from the start, which lasted for 16 years until he walked away Tuesday afternoon — leaving his fingerprints all over the Vince Lombardi Trophy his team won after the 2009 season.
His list of accomplishments is long:
• 152 regular-season wins (161 counting postseason).
• Ten winning seasons.
• Nine playoff appearances.
• Seven NFC South titles.
• Three NFC championship games.
• A win in Super Bowl XLIV.
Among the dozens of people Payton thanked Tuesday for the opportunity were Benson, who died in 2018, and Loomis, who was seated to Payton’s left along with owner Gayle Benson and team president Dennis Lauscha.
Payton said he would often visit Benson in his office and talk about family more than they would about football.
“I miss him and realize the time, and the timing, of me coming here in 2006 was perfect,” he said. “Obviously, us having some early success worked out, but I wish he was here.”
Payton then talked about Loomis and the importance of having ownership and a front office in alignment with the coaches, players and support staff for 16 years.
“Mickey Loomis, a dear friend,” he said. “Just as importantly, my general manager and just as importantly the person who gave me this opportunity. He took a chance on a first-year head coach, and you guys kind of know the batting average and challenges for these positions.
“We were always in concert. It didn’t mean that we always agreed, but we were always in concert.”
Payton admitted he couldn’t have envisioned what would happen when he accepted the challenge of leading the Saints to dizzying heights that fans could only imagine in the first 39 seasons of the franchise’s existence.
“Honestly, you don’t even think about the ending,” he said. “Like, you don’t have time to think about ‘what-if?’
“Listen, I had no idea about 15 years. I was just focused on just going and winning and winning and getting more players and people that can help you win. It doesn’t seem like 15 seasons … honestly, it seems more like 11.”
