Sean Payton has recruiting pitch to get former coworker to Broncos

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton calls upon two NFL veterans in the FOX broadcasting family to forgo retirement and rejoin the league.

Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski have made it abundantly clear that they aren’t interested in opening another chapter in the NFL, with both veterans moving into lucratrive roles with FOX Sports.

That hasn’t stopped Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton from attempting to bring the future Hall of Famers out of retirement. Payton tagged the former quarterback and tight end, as well as the Broncos and the NFL on FOX account on Twitter, followed by the message, “Let the recruitment begin!”

Payton makes a compelling case to win over Gronkowski by scratching out the “B” on a Broncos sweatshirt and scribbling in a “G”, renaming the team the “Groncos.” While the trio would make the team a serious contender, a pun isn’t enough to unite these generational talents in Denver.

Payton appears to be teasing Brady and Gronkowski more than anything, as the longtime NFL head coach has been busy strengthening his ties with current Broncos players and personnel. It was Broncos running back Latavius Murray who made his own pitch to lure Payton out of retirement during the 2022 season, and it seems that Payton and Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson are already busy building their own rapport ahead of Super Bowl LVII.

Sean Payton hopes to sway Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski to join Denver Broncos

Interestingly enough, there’s already quite a bit of overlap between Payton, Brady and Gronkowski. Although Payton never officially retired, all three individuals stepped away from football at one point in 2022, with Gronkowski the only one remaining in retirement. Brady returned for the 2022 season only to retire on Feb. 1, and Payton has now taken a job coaching the Broncos, all of which ends any speculation that Brady and Payton could finally work together as they hoped to do in Miami.

Also, all three individuals are or have been a part of the FOX Sports game-day team. Gronkowski joined FOX in 2019 during his first NFL retirement, then joined the crew again for the 2022 season after his second and final retirement. After Payton stepped away from the New Orleans Saints in 2022, he spent the 2022 season as an analyst for FOX. Brady landed a massive ten-year deal with FOX worth $375 million, with plans to take over the booth in 2024.

If there’s anyone in the FOX booth familiar with early retirements and unexpected returns, it’s Payton, Brady and Gronkowski. Unfortunately for Denver, it seems like Brady and Gronkowski have hung up their cleats for good.