Payton knocks recent HC hiring trend: 'We've got a diversity problem'

Hiring young offensive-minded head coaches has become a trend, with NFL teams attempting to find the next Sean McVay.

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton believes there are flaws in the hiring process because of that pursuit.

"I think we've got a diversity problem, like this season, what took place, that's hitting us square in the face," Payton said, according to NFL.com's Kevin Patra. "I think that not a lot was written or discussed about it. There are a handful of coaches that I know that if I was a GM who I would be interested in hiring.

"So, I think more and more it's season-by-season and 'I want Alvin Kamara.' Well, you can't have him. You can go draft 10 more running backs and be 0-for-10 trying to find him or McVay. And so I see a lot of mistakes made in that process I feel like this long in and so we're excited to play those teams."

Eight teams hired new head coaches following the 2018 season. Six are offensive specialists, and the Miami Dolphins' Brian Flores is the only non-white new sideline boss.

Payton says teams are missing out on other worthy candidates while focusing on young offensive gurus.

"(Coaches) probably come of both color and they probably come on defense and on offense," he said. "And they're good leaders. They're great leaders. And, so, if you say 'well I just want the one that coaches quarterbacks and they're on offense,' well, then, you're going to end up with a smaller pool and you'll probably have less of a chance to be right, because already of eight hired there's going to be three that survive three years."