Broncos HC Sean Payton Praises Legend After Historic Milestone

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton moved up the coaching ranks in Week 1, and he surpassed a franchise legend to do it.

The Broncos beat the Tennessee Titans, logging a historic victory over rookie No. 1 overall draft pick and quarterback Cam Ward. With that, Payton earned his 171st regular-season victory, good for the 19th most in NFL history.

Payton overtook legendary Broncos HC Mike Shanahan in the process.

Broncos HC Sean Payton Reacts to Passing Mike Shanahan on Regular Season Wins List

Payton spoke candidly about the milestone after Denver’s 20-12 win that was also his 19th as Broncos head coach.

“There’s certain times where you feel age. When I see good friends, they stay the same. When you see your good friends’ children growing up, you feel age. And you guys have heard me say before, I grew up on Mike Shanahan going to school at Eastern Illinois. At that time, he was the one guy that made it out, and made it into the NFL,” Payton told reporters via teleconference on September 8. “He’s been a tremendous close friend and, I would say, confidant. So, when I hear that, you don’t pay attention to that.

“I don’t know where that master list is, and it’s not something you look at. It’s kind of like, ‘All right.’ But it does put in perspective, maybe, how fortunate, how long the career has been. And then, how many good players I’ve been able to coach. And look, let’s hope I have a chance to win a second Super Bowl like Mike Shanahan. ”

Payton could end the 2025 season 11th on the all-time coaching wins list, overtaking Chuck Knox, but that would require an undefeated season from the Broncos. If the Broncos match last season’s win total, Payton could get as high as 13th.

To do that, Payton would have to pass to active coaches Pete Caroll of the Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens HC John Harbaugh.

Payton also passed another legend and two-time champ, Tom Coughlin, in the Broncos’ victory.

Sean Payton: Mike Shanahan ‘Going in Hall of Fame’

Shanahan is still the Broncos’ all-time winningest coach, and Payton sees more accolades on the way for his “close friend.”

“This is his year. This year, the next year, very soon, he’s going in the Hall of Fame,” Payton said. “Probably should have been in two, three years back. But that’s coming real quick. And so, something like that is – I think you reflect on it more than you focus on it.”

Perhaps Payton can pay tribute to Shanahan by emulating his Super Bowl run as he wishes.

Shanahan notched the Broncos’ first two Super Bowl wins, getting them in back-to-back seasons in 1997 and 1998.

Shanahan is still the Broncos’ all-time winningest coach.

Payton has been open about talking about reaching the Super Bowl with the 2025 Broncos, citing them among his previous title-contending teams. Fittingly, Shanahan has been vocal in support of that idea.

“They’ve got a chance to win the big one, and that’s what their goal is,” Shanahan said, per Tomasson on September 6.

Payton and the Broncos’ next test will be on the road against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2.

Oilers Cleared in Evander Kane LTIR Investigation

The NHL has closed its investigation into the Edmonton Oilers' usage of long-term injured reserve (LTIR) and found no wrongdoing, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told reporters Tuesday. As a result, the Oilers will not receive any punishment, either retroactive or for the upcoming season.

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The investigation centered on Edmonton's handling of forward Evander Kane, who did not play at all during the regular season but returned for Game 2 of the first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings. He then scored six goals and 12 points in 21 playoff games while averaging 16:29 of ice time to help the Oilers reach their second-straight Stanley Cup Final, where they once again lost to the Florida Panthers.

Kane being on LTIR took his $5.125 million cap hit off the Oilers' books, which helped them acquire defenseman Jake Walman and forward Trent Frederic at the trade deadline. The Oilers were far from the first team to use this loophole to add players at the deadline, but for unknown reasons, the league decided to look into their usage of it more closely.

The league is set to close this loophole with the new CBA, which won't fully go into effect until the 2026-27 season, but some changes are already going into effect this season.

Starting this season, teams will be retired to ice a cap-compliant lineup for each playoff game, whereas the salary cap previously ceased to take effect once the postseason rolled around. Teams such as the Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Vegas Golden Knights have iced lineups far above the cap in previous years, though not without significant controversy.

Teams will also receive less LTIR relief for injured players, now capping out at around $3.8 million for one player instead of their full cap hit. This has already had major ramifications around the league, most recently forcing the Montreal Canadiens to trade the contract of legendary goaltender Carey Price after previously having his entire $10.5 million cap hit off the books for the past few years.

The Oilers traded Kane, 34, to the Vancouver Canucks this offseason in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round pick. The trade was mostly to clear his salary with major extensions due over the next year and change.

Kane scored 62 goals and 111 points in 162 regular season games during his time in Edmonton, plus 26 goals and 42 points in 68 postseason games.