Saints coach Sean Payton declared out vs. Buccaneers after testing positive for COVID-19

Payton can return to the team once he meets league requirements for vaccinated individuals

The New Orleans Saints announced on Friday that head coach Sean Payton has tested positive for COVID-19 and is therefore out for Sunday's game against the division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Payton missed the Saints' Wednesday practice with an illness, but had tested negative for COVID-19 at the time.

Payton will remain sidelined for at least 10 days, unless he meets the league requirements for vaccinated individuals to return to the team environment, the team said, also noting that Payton will return to coach the team's Week 16 game against the Miami Dolphins. 

In Payton's absence, defensive coordinator Dennis Allen will serve as head coach against the Buccaneers, the team said. It is unknown at this time who will call offensive plays against Tampa Bay, though it seems likely that those duties would fall to offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, who has been Payton's right-hand man on the offense since he arrived in New Orleans in 2006. 

Payton is the second head coach to test positive for COVID-19 this week, following Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski. Other head coaches have also tested positive and missed games this season, including Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury, Bears coach Matt Nagy, and Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy.