Saints Players Wanted Dan Campbell as Head Coach in 2019

Former Saints tackle Terron Armstead reveals players were hoping Sean Payton would leave for the Cowboys so Campbell could take over.

Mar. 1, 2026 at 10:47pm

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In a revealing interview, former New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead disclosed that some Saints players were hoping head coach Sean Payton would leave the team in 2019 to take the Dallas Cowboys job, so that assistant head coach Dan Campbell could become the Saints' new head coach. Armstead said the players were "damn-near petitioning" for Payton to depart so that Campbell, who was beloved by the locker room, could take over.

Why it matters

This story provides a fascinating "what-if" moment for the Detroit Lions, as Campbell ultimately became their head coach in 2021 after the Saints did not promote him in 2019. If Payton had left the Saints, Campbell may not have been available for the Lions, potentially altering the course of the franchise's recent turnaround.

The details

According to Armstead, the Saints players were fed up with the persistent rumors that Payton wanted to leave New Orleans for the Cowboys job. With Campbell already respected and admired by the team, the players were hoping Payton would depart so that Campbell could take over as head coach.

  • In 2019, Sean Payton was rumored to be interested in the Dallas Cowboys head coaching job.

The players

Terron Armstead

A former offensive tackle for the New Orleans Saints.

Sean Payton

The former head coach of the New Orleans Saints.

Dan Campbell

The current head coach of the Detroit Lions, who was the assistant head coach and tight ends coach for the Saints in 2019.

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What they’re saying

“It was a point, we was damn-near petitioning to get Sean Payton to get up out of there. We kept hearing rumors of Sean entertaining the Cowboys job, and we were like, 'If Sean goes to Dallas, Dan Campbell is going to be our head coach. So, Sean, you do what's best for you and your family. We've got Dan Campbell.'”

— Terron Armstead, Former Saints Offensive Tackle (St. Brown Podcast)

What’s next

If Sean Payton had left the Saints in 2019 to take the Cowboys job, Dan Campbell may have become the Saints' head coach instead of joining the Lions in 2021.

The takeaway

This story highlights the deep respect and belief that Saints players had in Dan Campbell, even before he became a head coach. It also reveals a fascinating "sliding doors" moment that could have altered the trajectory of the Detroit Lions franchise if Campbell had taken over the Saints instead of joining the Lions in 2021.