NEW ORLEANS, La. – New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton learned Thursday that he has tested positive for the coronavirus, he told ESPN.
Payton is the first employee of either an NFL team or the league to make such a diagnosis public. He told the network that he came forward to motivate people to educate themselves about what they can do to help fight the pandemic.
Payton said he took the test Monday after he began to feel ill a day earlier, but also said he has not been admitted to a hospital and does not have a fever or cough.
The 56-year-old coach said he has been resting comfortably at home, where is in in self-quarantine. “I was fortunate to be in the minority, without the serious side effects that some have.