Few NFL head coaches have seen as much recent success with former players transitioning into coaching as Sean Payton, now with the Denver Broncos. Payton’s coaching tree continues to flourish, with his ex-players and assistants landing prominent roles across the league—most notably Dan Campbell thriving with the Detroit Lions and now Aaron Glenn stepping in as head coach of the New York Jets.
Over the years, Payton’s coaching tree has grown significantly, and he takes pride in the results. That’s why he didn’t hesitate to contact recently retired left tackle Terron Armstead—widely regarded as one of the top linemen in the NFL over the past decade—soon after his retirement.
Armstead, in a recent appearance on Up and Adams with Kay Adams, shared that Payton reached out right after he hung up his cleats, offering him a coaching role in Denver.
No kidding.
Sean Payton recruits Terron Armstead to join Denver Broncos staff
Listening to Terron Armstead in that interview, it’s clear he’s definitely open to the idea of joining Sean Payton and the Broncos in some kind of role. While Denver no longer needs him on the field—especially after investing heavily in Garett Bolles—they could absolutely benefit from having someone of Armstead’s caliber on the coaching staff.
One name that comes to mind in this context is Zach Strief, Denver’s offensive line coach and another former Payton player. Strief has earned a solid reputation around the league and drew some interest from other teams during the 2025 offseason. He’s done a fantastic job developing the talent Denver has up front. Bringing in Armstead as a well-paid assistant could give Strief valuable support—or even set up a possible succession plan down the line.
Nobody knows for sure what Payton has in store—not even Armstead—but there’s clearly something in the works. Armstead would bring immediate credibility to the locker room, not just as a respected veteran, but as someone who climbed from mid-round draft status and a small-school background to become a perennial Pro Bowler.
With nine years in New Orleans under Payton and three more in Miami, Armstead has a ton of knowledge to offer. No matter what his role ends up being, his presence on staff would be a big win for Denver.
Be the first to comment