Report: Cardinals, Texans granted permission to speak with Sean Payton

The Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans have received permission from the New Orleans Saints to interview Sean Payton for their respective vacant head coaching positions, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Arizona, which went 4-13 in 2022, fired head coach Kliff Kingsbury on Monday. General manager Steve Keim also stepped down. Payton is the first coaching candidate linked to the Cardinals, which have reportedly interviewed multiple executives for their GM opening.

Team owner Michael Bidwill said Monday that quarterback Kyler Murray will have input on the Cardinals' next head coach.

The Texans fired coach Lovie Smith on Sunday after just one season. Houston went 3-13-1 in 2022.

Payton - the most coveted head coaching candidate on the market this offseason - has done homework on the Cardinals' vacant job, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. He's also expected to speak with the Denver Broncos after they recently fired coach Nathaniel Hackett.

The 59-year-old Payton is still under contract with the Saints. Arizona and Houston would need to compensate New Orleans if one of them hires the 2006 Coach of the Year. Under NFL rules, no team can conduct an in-person interview with him until at least Jan. 17.

Payton stepped down as the Saints' head coach after 16 seasons following the 2021 campaign. One of football's brightest offensive minds, he posted a 152-89 regular-season record with New Orleans between 2006-21, helping the club win Super Bowl XLIV.