You’ve heard the rumors. For nearly two decades, every time the Chicago Bears have a head coaching vacancy, one name inevitably bubbles to the surface: Sean Payton. It makes too much sense, right? He’s a local legend from Naperville. He played for Eastern Illinois. He even wore the navy and orange during the 1987 strike.
But as we sit here in January 2026, looking at a Bears team finally finding its footing under Ben Johnson, the "what if" of Sean Payton remains one of the most persistent ghosts in Chicago sports history.
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Honestly, the connection between Sean Payton and the Chicago Bears is deeper than most fans realize, but it’s also a story of missed timing and "almosts" that could have changed the entire trajectory of the NFC North.
The "Spare Bear" Days Nobody Talks About
Most people know Sean Payton as the offensive mastermind who turned Drew Brees into a Hall of Famer. But before the designer visors and the Super Bowl ring, he was a "scab."
During the 1987 NFL players' strike, the Bears needed bodies. Payton, a prolific but undersized quarterback from Eastern Illinois, got the call. He wasn't exactly Lighting up the stat sheet. In three games, he completed about 35% of his passes. No touchdowns. One pick. A passer rating of 27.3.
Basically, he was a placeholder.
"I was a guy that could get us in and out of the huddle," Payton has joked in past interviews. He was part of the infamous "Spare Bears" squad. While he didn't stick as a player, those weeks in Lake Forest planted a seed. He saw how the Halas family operated. He saw the passion of the city. He was a kid from Naperville Central High living out a dream, even if it was under controversial circumstances.
Why the Sean Payton Chicago Bears Marriage Never Happened
Every few years, the stars seemed to align. In 2015, when the Bears fired Marc Trestman, Payton was rumbling about leaving New Orleans. Then again in 2018. And most famously in 2022 and 2023.
So, why didn't it happen?
- The Price Tag: Sean Payton is expensive. Not just in salary—though he’s consistently one of the highest-paid coaches in sports—but in draft capital. When he finally left the Saints for the Denver Broncos in 2023, it cost a first-round pick. The Bears, often in rebuilding mode, were rarely in a position to ship off premium picks for a coach.
- The Ryan Pace Connection: This is the irony. Ryan Pace, the former Bears GM, came directly from Payton’s scouting department in New Orleans. They are incredibly close. You’d think that would make a deal easier. Instead, it made it more complicated. Pace wanted to build his "own" legacy, eventually betting the house on Matt Nagy.
- The Power Dynamic: Sean Payton doesn't just coach; he runs the building. The Bears’ traditional corporate structure—moving from George McCaskey to a President to a GM—has historically clashed with the "all-powerful HC" model that Payton requires.
The 2025-2026 Reality: Different Paths
Right now, Sean Payton is currently navigating a wild postseason run with the Denver Broncos. As of mid-January 2026, he’s fresh off a 33-30 thriller against the Buffalo Bills, though he’s facing the AFC Championship without his star protege, Bo Nix, who just went down with a fractured ankle.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears finally stopped chasing the Payton dragon.
By hiring Ben Johnson in early 2025, the Bears shifted their identity. They stopped looking for a "savior" from the past and grabbed the brightest offensive mind of the present. Interestingly, the Bears' current staff actually has "Payton DNA" all over it. Offensive Coordinator Declan Doyle came directly from Payton's staff in Denver. Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen? That’s Payton’s former right-hand man and successor in New Orleans.
It’s almost like the Bears decided if they couldn't get Sean Payton, they’d just hire everyone who ever worked for him.
What Most People Get Wrong About the "Hometown Discount"
There’s this persistent myth in Chicago that Sean Payton "wanted" the job and the Bears said no. Or that he would have taken a discount to come home.
That's just not how Sean operates.
He’s a mercenary in the best sense of the word. He goes where the infrastructure is ready to win and where the ownership writes blank checks. Chicago has historically been too conservative for his tastes. While he loves Naperville and still has family in the area—his sister lives in Skokie—he’s a professional first. The "Chicago kid comes home" narrative makes for great sports talk radio, but it rarely survives a contract negotiation.
Lessons from the Payton-Bears Saga
If you’re a Bears fan looking at the current state of the team, the Sean Payton obsession actually teaches us a few things about where the franchise is going.
- Quarterback Stability is Everything: Payton didn't win because of a "system" alone; he won because he had Drew Brees. The Bears' current focus on Caleb Williams is the right move. You don't hire a guy like Payton unless you have the horse to run the race.
- The "Coaching Tree" is a Real Asset: Even without Payton, the Bears are benefiting from his influence. Seeing Declan Doyle bring those New Orleans/Denver concepts to Chicago has helped Caleb Williams' development immensely.
- Timing Trumps Talent: Sometimes a great coach and a great franchise just miss each other. The Bears were ready for a change when Payton was under contract; Payton was a free agent when the Bears thought they had their guy.
What’s Next for the Chicago-Payton Connection?
The window for Sean Payton to ever coach the Chicago Bears is likely slammed shut. He’s building a powerhouse in Denver, and Ben Johnson has the Bears looking like a perennial playoff contender in the NFC.
But don't expect the name to disappear.
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As long as Payton is winning games and the Bears are looking for offensive sparks, the comparison will always be there. He is the benchmark for the modern "offensive CEO" coach. For the Bears, the goal isn't to find the next Sean Payton anymore—it's to make sure Ben Johnson becomes the version of Payton that Chicago finally gets to keep.
Actionable Insights for Bears Fans:
- Keep an eye on Declan Doyle’s play-calling. You’ll see "Payton-isms" like the heavy use of screen passes and specific red-zone sets that were staples in New Orleans.
- Watch how the Bears manage Caleb Williams’ second year. Payton’s greatest strength was evolving the offense to fit the QB's aging or changing skillset; the Bears must do the same as Williams grows.
- Monitor the Denver injury report. If Payton manages to win the AFC with a backup like Jarrett Stidham, it further proves that his system is more important than the individual parts—a lesson the Bears' front office is clearly trying to emulate.
The ghost of Sean Payton might still haunt Soldier Field, but for the first time in years, the Bears look like they’ve finally moved on.