Sean Payton is the first NFL head coach to sign with Jordan Brand, and let’s just say he carries the title with pride.
One day during the Broncos’ training camp, he walked around in purple low-top Air Jordan 1s. Another day, he was rocking all-white Air Jordan 11s. He rarely wears the same pair twice.
Payton occasionally sports Jordan Brand shoes his players have never seen before. And he isn’t shy about letting them know about it.
“(Payton) brags about it a little bit, (saying) ‘You haven’t seen these in stores yet,’” cornerback Pat Surtain II told The Post. “Every day he’s showing off new shoes.”
Payton’s deal with the Jordan Brand started after the GOAT himself, Michael Jordan, noticed the veteran coach wearing his sneakers during New Orleans Saints games. In 2020, the six-time NBA champion saw an opportunity to grow his brand’s roster and reached out.
Payton recalled an invitation to visit Jordan’s private golf course in Jupiter, Florida. Although he’d never met Jordan up until that point, having mutual friends was enough. When Payton finished touring the club, he had a conversation with the former Chicago Bulls star.
“He said, ‘I noticed you are always wearing Jordan 11s, and I’m going to make you the first Jordan Brand coach,’” Payton told The Post. “I said, ‘That sounds good.’”
Payton wasn’t sure what he verbally agreed to until two weeks later, when he received an email about joining the Jordan family, which consists of an array of stars across the NFL and NBA, including Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, Raiders receiver Davante Adams, Bills wideout Stefon Diggs and Seahawks safety Jamal Adams.
Michigan men’s basketball coach Juwan Howard is also under Jordan Brand — the university has donned the iconic Jumpman logo through its partnership since 2016 — and UCLA has been connected to the brand since 2021.
Shoe deals can vary. Some athletes earn money for wearing the brand’s gear while receiving player-exclusive sneakers. Others, like Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Clippers guard Russell Westbrook and New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, have signature shoe deals. Nike does not disclose any contractual details regarding athletes, entertainers, coaches or people who are signed with the Jordan Brand. So exactly what Payton’s deal with Jordan entails remains a bit of a mystery. One thing is clear: He gets a whole lot of shoes.
“I filled out the information and got more Jordan gear and shoes that are still coming,” Payton said. “Fortunately for me, my son wears the same size because I can’t possibly wear all these shoes.”
Payton said he has hundreds of pairs of Jordan sneakers, some of which he had before the deal. His favorite pair are the Jordan 11s, which he often wore on the sidelines at Saints games.
According to a source, Payton will wear a new pair of Jordans in Broncos colors this season. The shoe is exclusive to Payton, but it’s not a signature model — nor will it be released to the public.
Payton grew up in Chicago and was playing quarterback for Eastern Illinois when Jordan signed with Nike in 1984. The Jordan Brand later became its own Nike subsidiary in 1997. Payton remembered the hype surrounding the iconic Air Jordan 1s, which were released in 1985, and how kids were begging their parents to buy them a pair. “Your parents will be like ‘Nah, I can’t afford to buy you any of that,’” he said.
Payton showed off his elite shoe game during the Nuggets’ postseason run as well, wearing a different pair of Jordans to every game he attended, including the UNION LA x Jordan 2s for the NBA Finals Game 5 clincher against the Miami Heat.
While Payton has enough Jordans to fill a shoe store, defensive backs coach Christian Parker’s collection is pretty impressive, too.
Parker has 350 pairs total. Between 150 to 175 are Jordans. He has 16 of the original Air Jordan 1s and all of the brand’s collaborations with rapper Travis Scott and Off-White, a fashion label.
While that might’ve been good enough to be the Broncos’ undisputed Jordan collection king the past two years prior to Payton’s arrival at Dove Valley, the head coach insists Parker is now second in command.
“He’s no longer the president,” Payton joked.
Parker, however, is not ready to give up his crown just yet.
“I think we need to have a board meeting about that,” Parker laughed. “I can’t give my title up that easily. But (Payton) is definitely a high-ranking official for sure.”
Parker has been a lifelong fan of the Air Jordan sneakers. Growing up, his aunt would buy him a pair of shoes once a year. Later, he started working jobs in high school so he could buy the latest editions himself.
Parker was a defensive quality control coach for the Green Bay Packers in 2020 when he heard about Payton’s shoe deal and admitted he was jealous.
“I wanted to be the first coach to do that,” Parker said. “But I think it’s cool, man. He would flex on me because he has more access to some exclusives.”
Payton’s relationship with Jordan Brand also has impressed Surtain. “You don’t see too many head coaches signing sneaker deals,” the All-Pro cornerback said. Even though Payton is a member of the club, Surtain says his coach acts more like a recruiter.
“He was telling me the scoop about Jordan and how they treat him,” Surtain said. “He was like once you join Jordan, it’s a brotherhood from here on. But I’m with Nike right now, so we will see how things go.”
Until then, Surtain will have to take a backseat to Payton like everyone else at Broncos headquarters — because nobody is topping his Jordan collection anytime soon.
“These guys pay attention to all that stuff,” Payton said. “When a new pair comes (out), they will be looking at me, and I’ll be like, ‘These are not for everybody. You gotta be in the club to get these.’”
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