.New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton raised some eyebrows during Wednesday’s press conference announcing the induction of Marques Colston and Reggie Bush to the Saints Hall of Fame — he’d suddenly shaved his head. Payton didn’t acknowledge his change of hairstyling (or lack thereof), keeping attention focused on the players being honored, as well as the recognition for former Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco, who received the Joe Gemilli Fleur De Lis Award.
But fans soon had their answer. WDSU sports anchor Fletcher Mackel reported that Payton shaved his head to support a personal friend who is battling cancer, and lost her own hair during treatment. It’s a nice gesture by the Saints coach to move in solidarity with someone close to him.
It’s not the first time someone on the team has cut their locks to back a good cause. Saints punter Thomas Morstead regularly grows his hair out and donates it to support pediatric cancer research, doing so as recently as last year. It’s just another example of Saints players and coaches going out of their way to help those in need.
