Legendary head coach Sean Payton has had an impressive yet controversial career in the NFL. From his Super Bowl 44 victory to the fallout of ‘BountyGate’, Payton has put his stamp on the league. Now, as head coach of the Denver Broncos, Payton has continued to try and climb the ranks of the winningest coaches in NFL history.
Payton has been around the league for a while, but his life extends beyond the field. Let’s take a look at who has been by his side during his long career, including his wife Skylene and children Meghan and Conner.
Who Is Sean Payton’s Wife Skylene Montgomery?
Payton’s current wife, Skylene Montgomery, was born on Dec. 4, 1984, in Parkersburg, West Virginia. She attended Parkersburg South High School before attending Marshall University. Montgomery received a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology at Marshall and an advanced nursing degree from Loyola University.
Montgomery grew up playing softball and volleyball but opted to pursue medicine as her career. It’s reported that she works as a nurse at Ochsner LSU Health. She was also a beauty pageant contestant, winning Miss West Virginia in 2007 and Miss USA in 2008.
It wasn’t until 2014 that the two met at an NFL game between the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints. Payton had been married to his first wife, Beth Shuey, since 1992 before filing for divorce in 2012. The two had two children together, Connor and Meghan.
Montgomery and Payton began dating and got engaged on Nov. 8, 2019. The two were married in June 2021. Skylene told Nola.com, “Short of my being on his insurance, and having a big ol’ rock on my hand, nothing will really change when we marry.”
The wedding was a private ceremony in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, officiated by former NBA player and coach Avery Johnson.
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Payton, who once played college football and in the Canadian Football League, has been coaching in the NFL since 1997. His first head coaching job was with the Saints, where he spent most of his career from 2006-2021. Payton did have a one-year hiatus in 2012 when he was suspended due to the Bountygate scandal.
Payton’s Daughter Meghan Also in the Spotlight
Payton’s daughter with his first wife Beth, Meghan Payton, has continued to make her name known in the NFL and sports betting universe.
She graduated from Pepperdine University in 2019 with a media production and sports broadcasting degree. She started in sports media and initially gained attention as a sideline reporter during NFL preseason games. Now, she is a betting host and analyst on WagerTalk TV and FanDuel.
LAVISKA SHENAULT +750 ANYTIME TD
let’s try to top it this weekend lol pic.twitter.com/r4uOUH6INW
— Meghan Payton (@meghanpayton7) October 11, 2024
“Growing up with a father in the NFL has been a huge influence in my life. I’ve always been surrounded by sports, and it feels natural to continue on that path.” Meghan told Nola.com.
On a personal note, in an ironic turn of events, she is engaged to Christopher Titone, who is tied to the sports industry as the writer of the Netflix film “Home Team,” inspired by her father’s life.
Payton’s Son Connor and His Low-Profile Path to the NFL
Connor Payton, Sean’s youngest child, was born on May 31, 2000. He is pursuing his education at Texas Christian University, where he is interested in NFL scouting and management.
Besides that, little is known about Connor because he has decided to pursue a more low-key lifestyle. However, he does clearly want to be involved in football in some way. “I want to carve my own path in football, not just ride the waves of my father’s legacy,” Connor has said.
Connor was thrust into the spotlight during Payton’s year off from the NFL due to the BountyGate scandal. Payton spent his time coaching Connor’s high school football team, which was the main focus of the film Home Team.
“I run the offense. The head coach is Brennan Hardy, who does a great job. We had our first game Saturday, and we won 30-0. Obviously, it’s a completely different element. Yet you get just as excited to see the team you’re a part of do well. It was about 110 degrees on the Astroturf, I was just glad no one melted. But it was a good win for us to start the season. We scored a lot of points and created some turnovers. And they get excited about it, which is great to see.” Payton said when interviewed during that season.