NFL legend criticizes coaches fourth-down aggressiveness after Sean Payton's costly decision in Broncos loss

Super Bowl champion Michael Strahan said helium does not recognize the coaches who spell for it connected 4th down each the time.

Strahan, 54, lamented Denver Broncos caput manager Sean Payton for choosing to spell for it connected 4th down erstwhile the Broncos were up 7-0 aboriginal successful their nonaccomplishment to the New England Patriots successful the AFC Championship Game connected Sunday.

"Denver, I thought that they should person kicked that tract goal, gone up, taken the points," Strahan said during a caller quality connected "New Heights."

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Michael Strahan plays the 2nd spread anterior to the 2025 Ryder Cup astatine the Black Course astatine Bethpage State Park successful Farmingdale, New York, connected Sept. 24, 2025. (Mateo Villalba/Getty Images)

"I don't get these coaches now, due to the fact that 4th down present is automatic go-for-it much than not. And I get analytics, but you got to consciousness the team, you got to consciousness the situation."

With the Broncos starting backup backmost Jarrett Stidham, and knowing that the upwind was going to go a origin aboriginal successful the game, Strahan wished the Broncos had taken the points and gone up 10-0. Strahan, who played nether Payton during his clip with the New York Giants, said helium felt atrocious for the coach.

"I felt atrocious for Sean Payton, origin Sean Payton coached maine backmost successful 2000 oregon thing similar that. I emotion Sean, and I talked to him the time earlier the game, (he was) precise assured (in) what they were doing but successful the playoffs," Strahan said.

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Denver Broncos caput manager Sean Payton watches during the 2nd fractional of the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots successful Denver, Colorado, connected Jan. 25, 2026. (John Locher/AP Photo)

"I felt similar conscionable instrumentality the points, man, instrumentality the points, enactment unit connected New England, particularly connected the road, to bushed you with a large defence similar they have."

Strahan besides pointed retired that the Patriots person a precise bully defense, and that erstwhile you get down successful the reddish zone, you person to instrumentality the points you tin get. Had the Broncos elected to footwear the tract goal, and made it, they would person gone up 10-0.

A two-score lead, with the upwind that ended up coming successful the 2nd half, could person changed the result of the game. Strahan thought the Broncos should person won the game.

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Denver Broncos caput manager Sean Payton speaks during a quality league pursuing the AFC Championship Game betwixt the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots successful Denver, Colorado, connected Jan. 25, 2026. (Garrett W. Ellwood/AP Photo)

Instead, the Patriots precocious and volition instrumentality connected the Seattle Seahawks successful the Super Bowl connected Feb. 8.

Strahan, who was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame aft a 15-year vocation with the Giants, recorded 141.5 sacks successful 216 games and is considered 1 of the champion antiaircraft ends of all-time.

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