Sean Payton’s foray into flag football ends with a pair of defeats

Sean Payton’s flag-football coaching debut didn’t go as he would have hoped.

Guiding the “Founders” team of current and former NFL players in the double-elimination format among three teams — two with NFL representation along with the Team USA flag-football squad that specializes in the version of the sport that will be played at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles — his side lost both of its contests Saturday at the Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Carson, Calif.

Payton’s squad fell 43-16 to Team USA in its first contest, then dropped a 34-26 decision to the “Wildcats,” the other side with current and former NFL players. San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan was the head coach for that team.

The team Payton guided included the following players:

• Tom Brady, Hall of Fame QB
• Terence Crawford, boxer
• Stefon Diggs, free-agent WR
• Rob Gronkowski, former NFL TE
• Damar Hamlin, free-agent safety
• Jalen Hurts, Eagles QB
• Ashton Jeanty, Raiders RB
• Alvin Kamara, Saints RB
• Von Miller, free-agent edge rusher
• Patrick Peterson, former NFL CB
• DeVonta Smith, Eagles WR
• Antoine Winfield Jr., Bucs safety

After getting throttled in the first game, Payton’s side was more competitive in Game 2. Trailing 26-18 with 7:20 to go in the second half, Jalen Hurts’ jump ball down the left sideline was intercepted by Luke Kuechly. One play later, Saquon Barkley ran for a touchdown, effectively salting away the contest.

Hurts ran for a touchdown on the subsequent series, then fired a two-point conversion strike to Smith, his Eagles teammate, narrow the gap for what would be the final margin.

The games came one day after Payton offered his first on-the-record comments about the Broncos’ blockbuster trade for Jaylen Waddle.

Payton will head to Phoenix to take part in NFL Competition Committee meetings in a few days prior to the NFL Annual Meeting, which takes place at the Arizona Biltmore hotel beginning March 29. Payton is expected to address media March 31 at the AFC Coaches Breakfast for his first press conference since the NFL Scouting Combine.

Denver Sports will have on-site coverage, with editions of Orange and Blue Today live from Phoenix.

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