Broncos coach Sean Payton made headlines for the wrong reasons during his latest media availability this week ahead of Saturday’s divisional round matchup against the Bills.
The NFL Coach of the Year contender fielded plenty of questions about the upcoming home playoff game, but one in particular rubbed him the wrong way and caused him to respond in a patronizing manner.
Payton was asked about the return of Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw and how Greenlaw’s “ability to attack downhill” would factor into the matchup.
“You want him to attack downhill? Is that your—? Like, what do you know about attacking downhill in the run game? You don't know,” Payton curtly responded.
The reporter immediately tried to smooth things over and said, “That’s a good point. I’m not a middle linebacker.”
“That’s right,” Payton said, in the same condescending tone. “Have him attack him downhill. It’s good to have a healthy Dre Greenlaw back in the game.”
#Broncos HC Sean Payton was asked about having LB Dre Greenlaw back and his ability to attack downhill in the running game.…
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 14, 2026
Sean Payton: "You want him to attack downhill? Like, what do you know about attacking downhill in the run game? You don't know."
(🎥 @Broncos) https://t.co/Zx4AjdxpFq pic.twitter.com/Ag6RPxrMqc
Not the best look for the veteran coach.
This is hardly Payton’s first testy exchange with the media during his decades-long tenure in the league. Just a month ago, Payton called out another Broncos reporter for asking the “silliest question of the night” following Denver’s win over the Commanders. Not to mention Denver’s drama-filled (and short-lived) Russell Wilson era years ago during which Payton’s emotions often boiled over into postgame pressers.
The reporter who asked the Greenlaw question, Luca Evans from the Denver Post, brushed off his interaction with Payton afterward. “This was a funny moment, we joked about it after, it’s all good,” Evans wrote on X.
Still, many NFL fans thought Payton was unnecessarily rude and arrogant and could have handled the question a lot better:
Where is the outcry for the way Payton treated this reporter? He was down right rude and nasty to this reporter. But we are mad at a reporter for being nice in JAX? https://t.co/Ls0DMt6S85
— Bob Fescoe (@bobfescoe) January 14, 2026
Come on man. https://t.co/Wph7lAYaXp
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) January 14, 2026
Would love to see a journalist compliment him after a loss 💀 https://t.co/OsesakfFqI
— Ben Allen (@BenAllenSports) January 14, 2026
Alright, bountygate… relax https://t.co/xK10FGVbuP
— Nate Geary (@NateGearySports) January 14, 2026
Is Sean Payton the most hateable coach in the NFL? All signs point to yes. https://t.co/eVmB5JQSlr
— phairweather phan (@phamos) January 14, 2026
How about just answer the question. Such a dislikable human. https://t.co/nxM9zYtakx
— Seth Davis (@seth_davis26) January 14, 2026
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Sean Payton Ripped for Rude Response to Broncos Reporter Over Simple Football Question.
