Broncos HC Sean Payton receives game ball after prime time victory over Saints in return game to New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS – In his productive career as Saints head coach, Sean Payton addressed his teams dozens of times after big wins.

On Thursday night in New Orleans, Payton and his team achieved another victory. Only this time, Payton was standing in the visitors' locker room after a decisive win.

And as Payton stood in a foggy locker room, Broncos owner and CEO Greg Penner presented Payton with a game ball to commemorate the victory in his return to the Big Easy.

“It meant a lot,” Payton said after the Broncos’ 33-10 win over the Saints. “…It meant a lot to me because there were a lot of moments here.”

During his tenure as head coach of the Saints, he achieved the most wins and the highest winning percentage in franchise history. Payton led the Saints to their only Super Bowl title and earned nine playoff victories.

Payton became only the second head coach in NFL history to win at least 150 games with an organization against his former team. However, unlike Hall of Famer Curly Lambeau, Payton earned a victory in his return. Payton is also the second coach since 2000 to win his first road game against his former team in at least 10 seasons.

In the hours before the Broncos' prime-time victory, Payton acknowledged some of those moments. He and several other former Saints coaches stopped by Drew Brees' Saints Hall of Fame induction dinner. Shortly before kickoff, Payton visited former players and coaches on the field.

Then he went to battle with his new team and earned a victory that moved the Broncos to 4-3 – and also reminded Payton why he's a coach.

“Being part of this team and this ownership group is why you miss it,” Payton said. “That one year off and you miss relationships and you miss making memories. It's like I told (the team) Surtain's interception right in front of our bench a few weeks ago (via CB Pat). There will be a day when I don't remember his name, and I drink applesauce out of a straw, but I will remember this piece. The part of being with young people and having the chance to be part of their journey and coach them is pretty good work and I'm grateful for it.

Payton said before the game that the emotions would come back as he faced the Saints for the first time as an opposing head coach, but he also drew attention to the importance of a win. The Broncos were able to get that win on Thursday, and Payton joined a select group of head coaches who have defeated all 32 teams in their careers.

“It was great,” quarterback Bo Nix said of the team presenting Payton with a game ball. “The Saints mean a lot to him. He was there for a while. Had incredible success and it's hard to return to a place you've called home for so long, fought for and are now playing against. That was it.” something special. It was a great moment.

Running back Javonte Williams said he could see the significance of the win and that “it was something that was close to his heart” from the way Payton addressed the team after the game. Payton admitted it was “emotional” receiving the game ball and returning to the place where he began his head coaching career.

Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto put it even more simply when asked what it means to be able to bring a win to his head coach.

“It meant everything,” Bonitto said.