SLS 13RS-1257 ORIGINAL
Page 1 of 3
Regular Session, 2013
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 68
BY SENATOR LONG
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Sean Payton upon his return as the New Orleans Saints
head coach.
A RESOLUTION1
To commend Patrick Sean Payton upon his return as the New Orleans Saints head coach.2
WHEREAS, Patrick Sean Payton was born in San Mateo, California, raised in3
Naperville, Illinois, by parents Thomas and Jeanne Payton, and has two children, daughter4
Meghan and son Connor; and5
WHEREAS, Sean Payton was a quarterback at Naperville Central High School, and,6
after winning a scholarship, he successfully played quarterback at Eastern Illinois7
University, leading the Panthers to an 11-2 record and the quarter finals of the Division I-AA8
Playoffs in 1986, and was elected to the Eastern Illinois Hall of Fame in September 2000;9
and10
WHEREAS, although not drafted in 1987 into the National Football League (NFL),11
he tried out for the Kansas City Chiefs for one day, and played quarterback for the Chicago12
Bruisers and Pittsburgh Gladiators during the inaugural season of the Arena Football13
League; and14
WHEREAS, he was also a member of the Chicago Bears as one of the strikebreaking15
replacement players, known as the "Spare Bears", during the 1987 NFL players strike where,16
coincidently, his one interception came against the New Orleans Saints; and17
WHEREAS, he began his coaching career as the offensive assistant coach for San18 SR NO. 68
SLS 13RS-1257 ORIGINAL
Page 2 of 3
Diego State University and had several assistant coaching positions in the NFL, including1
the quarterbacks coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, assistant coach for the New York Giants,2
and assistant coach for the Dallas Cowboys before being named as the tenth coach in Saints3
history; and4
WHEREAS, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the Saints finished the 2005 season5
with a disappointing 3-13 record, but in 2006, Coach Payton joined the franchise as head6
coach and aggressively worked and motivated the team to a winning 10-6 record and their7
first playoff appearance in six years; and8
WHEREAS, in recognition of his team's dramatic improvement and inspirational9
play, Coach Payton was selected as the 2006 Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year; and10
WHEREAS, in 2009, he aggressively coached the Saints to their most successful11
season, with a 13-3 regular season record and a 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in12
the Super Bowl XLIV - the first professional football championship for the city of New13
Orleans, the state of Louisiana, and the Saints franchise; and14
WHEREAS, in 2010, Coach Payton led the Saints to an 11-5 record and their second15
consecutive post-season appearance, becoming only the second coach in franchise history16
to post three double-digit winning seasons; and17
WHEREAS, Coach Payton followed-up in 2011, leading the Saints to another 13-318
record, their third consecutive post-season appearance, and the fourth post-season19
appearance in his six years with the franchise; and20
WHEREAS, during the 2009, 2010, and 2011 seasons, coached by Sean Payton, the21
Saints won 41 regular-season and playoff games combined, more than any other team in the22
NFL; and23
WHEREAS, in January 2013, Coach Payton, who guided the most successful period24
in Saints franchise history, signed a five-year contract extension as head coach at a time25
when most experts would agree that he would have become the most coveted available coach26
in the NFL if allowed to become a free agent; and27
WHEREAS, it brings great joy and hope to the numerous fans and supporters of28
Saints football to know that when the season starts in the fall of 2013, Coach Payton will29
once again be on the sidelines leading and inspiring the players and coaches; and30 SR NO. 68
SLS 13RS-1257 ORIGINAL
Page 3 of 3
WHEREAS, Coach Sean Payton has proven to be a leader and a catalyst who1
motivates athletes to work together, exceed personal expectations, attempt seemingly2
unattainable goals, and perform as a team made of many cohesive parts.3
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana4
does hereby congratulate Coach Payton upon his return as head coach of the New Orleans5
Saints.6
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to7
Coach Sean Payton.8
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Michelle Broussard-Johnson.
DIGEST
Long SR No. 68
Commends Coach Sean Payton upon his return as head coach of the New Orleans Saints.