Meet Sean Payton, The First NFL Coach To Test Positive For Coronavirus

Sean Payton

Sean Payton, head coach of the New Orleans Saints, tweeted on Thursday that he is at home and has the novel coronavirus, CNN reports.

“Appreciate the well wishes. I’m feeling better and fortunate to not have any of the respiratory symptoms. 4 more days at home. #BEATCovid,” he wrote, referring to the name of the disease caused by the virus.

Payton included a selfie that includes a dog sharing his couch.

Payton told ESPN that he started to feel unwell Sunday and was tested Monday. The Saints coach says he is self-isolating at home and feeling fatigued, but is not experiencing a fever or cough.

There have been more than 380 cases reported in Louisiana, with a majority being in the New Orleans area.

Payton is the first NFL figure to publicly acknowledge he has had a positive test.

Payton, 56, has been the head coach of the New Orleans Saints since 2006. Before that, he had jobs with nine NFL or college teams, including the Dallas Cowboys.