Contract details for Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton

Sean Payton is in position to do something that no Denver Broncos head coach since Gary Kubiak has: take the team to the playoffs.

The Broncos are 7-5 in Payton's second season as the team's head coach. They're third place in the AFC West but would hold the third wild-card spot and No. 7 seed in the AFC playoff bracket if the season ended after Week 13.

A big reason for Denver's success is the way Payton has coached up rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who has continued to get better every week. Over his last five games, Nix ranks in the top 10 in EPA per play and completion percentage over expected, and his case for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award gets stronger with each passing week.

The Broncos' investment in Payton as their head coach seems to be paying off through 1 1/2 seasons. Here's just how big that investment is:

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Sean Payton contract details

According to NBC Sports' Peter King, Payton's contract with the Broncos is for five years. It pays him roughly $18 million per year.

Given that Payton is in his second season as Denver's head coach, a five-year deal would suggest he's under contract through the 2027 NFL season.

Payton initially announced his retirement after his 2021 season with the New Orleans Saints. After taking a full year off from coaching, he began interviewing for head coaching jobs in January 2023.

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Late that month, Payton announced he would be signing a contract to become Denver's next head coach. Since New Orleans still technically owned his rights from his previous contract, the Broncos had to complete a trade with the Saints to officially hire their new head coach.

In the end, Denver sent a 2023 first-round pick (Bryan Bresee) and a 2024 second-round pick (later traded to Packers) to New Orleans in exchange for Payton's rights and a 2024 third-round pick (later traded to Seahawks).

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sean Payton contract details: How much is Broncos HC getting paid