Former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton is set to return to the Superdome for the second time since becoming head coach of the Denver Broncos last year.
According to a report from Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football earlier this morning, the Broncos will travel to New Orleans for Week 3 of the NFL preseason.
This marks Sean Payton’s second return to the Superdome in the past year. His first came in Week 7 of last season, when the Saints hosted the Broncos on a Thursday night—and Denver dominated, cruising to a 33-10 win that would’ve been 33-3 if not for a late Saints touchdown.
While it’s “just” a preseason game, this upcoming matchup could be the most anticipated preseason contest for the Saints in over five years. The emotional weight of Payton’s return will be front and center, and it remains to be seen whether the crowd greets him with applause or boos. Beyond the off-field storylines, it also promises a valuable look at rookie quarterbacks Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler as they continue to compete for roles ahead of the regular season.
It’s shaping up to be an exciting season for Saints fans—even if the expectations are tempered. This marks year one under new head coach Kellen Moore, who’s assembled a strong coaching staff and selected a quarterback he clearly believes in during the draft. There’s a fresh energy around the team, and a sense that a new foundation is being laid.
The journey officially begins in Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals, as also reported by Nick Underhill earlier this morning. It’s a new era in New Orleans, and fans have plenty of reasons to be intrigued.
So far, three Saints matchups have been leaked ahead of the full schedule release: the Week 3 preseason game against Sean Payton’s Broncos, the regular season opener at home vs. the Arizona Cardinals, and a Week 5 home game against the New York Giants.
The full 2025 NFL schedule is set to drop tonight at 7 p.m. CT, but with the way things are trending, we can probably expect a few more leaks to surface before then. Stay tuned—more key dates for the Saints’ new era under Kellen Moore are likely just around the corner.
