Sean Payton has passed his professional coaching career while also playing a vital role as a father to Meghan and Connor. Beginning his NFL coaching journey in 1997, Payton took on the role of quarterback coach for the Philadelphia Eagles.
After further stints with the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys, Payton earned his first head coaching position with the New Orleans Saints, where he cemented his legacy by leading the team to a Super Bowl victory in 2009.
Beyond his football accomplishments, Payton has been a dedicated father to his children, Meghan and Connor. As they grew up, they were a steady presence in his life, supporting him through both the triumphs and challenges of his career. Meghan ventured into media, while Connor set his sights on a career in the NFL front office.
In 2021, after a long career, Payton announced his retirement from coaching, a decision that was met with enthusiasm from his children. “I know he’s excited to kind of have some free time and be able to come down here and visit me and go visit Meghan a little bit in California,” Connor shared with WDSU News, expressing excitement about the family time ahead.
Before returning to coaching in 2023 with the Denver Broncos, Payton enjoyed spending time with his family, including his wife Skylene Montgomery.
Now, let’s take a closer look at Sean Payton’s children: Meghan and Connor.
Meghan Payton, 27
Meghan, born in 1997 to Payton and his first wife Beth Shuey, has grown up surrounded by the shifting locations of her father’s career. She moved to Louisiana in 2006 when Payton accepted the New Orleans Saints head coaching job. Later, in 2015, Meghan relocated to California to attend Pepperdine University.
This move marked an emotional milestone for Payton, who reflected on the bittersweet experience of helping her set up her dorm room. “A good part of the day was spent at Walmart… just doing normal dad stuff,” he humorously recounted.
At Pepperdine, Meghan pursued sports journalism and media production, leading to an internship with the NFL’s rotational program. One memorable assignment involved interviewing her father for NFL Network’s Total Access, where she asked him tough questions about the Saints’ playoff loss. She later admitted that interviewing her father was more challenging than anticipated, acknowledging the difficulty of interviewing someone so close to her.
Meghan continued to excel in her field, working for various sports media outlets, including a role as a reporter for a New Orleans ABC affiliate and as a host for FanDuel TV. She won an Emmy in 2020 for her work producing NFL 100 on the NFL Network.
In 2023, she married Chris Titone, a writer and actor who helped produce Home Team, a film about Payton’s coaching experience during his 2012 NFL suspension, a project inspired by Meghan’s segment for NFL Network.
Connor Payton, 24
Connor, born in 2000, was raised with a deep connection to football, often visiting his father while he coached in New Orleans. However, a pivotal moment in 2012 allowed Payton and his son to bond in a unique way.
During Payton’s NFL suspension due to the “Bountygate” scandal, he was able to coach Connor’s sixth-grade football team. This experience, which took him away from the high-pressure NFL world, was a rare opportunity for Payton to spend quality time with his son.
Reflecting on that period, Payton called it “the best thing” about the suspension, as it allowed him to be present for his children’s lives. “One of the things about what we do, so many times you’re missing things,” he shared in 2012. The time spent coaching Connor’s team became the inspiration for Home Team, with Kevin James portraying Payton in the film.
After graduating, Connor pursued his dream of working in an NFL front office, enrolling at Texas Christian University. By 2022, he gained valuable experience with the Saints’ scouting department during training camp.
Reflecting on his upbringing in the football world, Connor expressed how it shaped his career aspirations, stating, “Growing up around the Saints and in New Orleans, how can you not want to work in football?”
When his father left the Saints in 2022, Connor shared a heartfelt tribute on X (formerly Twitter), showcasing photos from their years together on the sidelines. He captioned it, “from age 6 to 21, thank you and love you all #WhoDat.”
