Sean Payton’s NFL coaching career was put on pause during the 2012 season as he served a year-long suspension for his involvement in the Saints’ infamous Bountygate scandal.
The story was big enough that Netflix decided to make a movie about it.
However, it wasn’t about the scandal itself; it was about what Payton did during his suspension.
Payton spent the 2012 NFL season on the sidelines… coaching for his 12-year-old son’s football team. His decision to do so gained national attention, as the idea of an NFL coach leading a youth team captivated football fans across the country.
The movie — entitled “Home Team” and released in January 2022 — starred Kevin James, who was asked to play Payton in what many viewed as a bizarre casting decision. It wasn’t particularly well-received either, with many noting that the Adam Sandler-produced comedy didn’t fully commit to the truth of the story while trying to package the family movie.
MORE: Why Sean Payton left the Saints, ventured into Fox booth for one season
But what elements of the Sean Payton movie are true, and which are distorted for a family audience? Here’s what to know about the movie with Payton once again back on an NFL sideline.
Fact-checking Kevin James’ Sean Payton movie plot
There are some truths to the “Home Team” plot, and most at the center of the story ring true.
Yes, Payton was suspended from the NFL for a season for his involvement in the Saints’ Bountygate scandal. The movie glosses over the exact details of the impropriety — Payton failed to stop defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ payment plan awarded to players that injured opponents — but it does address his suspension from the league.
It’s also true that Payton served as an offensive assistant for his son’s football team while he was away from the NFL. He worked alongside Brennan Hardy, portrayed by Taylor Lautner and named “Troy Lambert” in the film, and effectively served as the team’s offensive coordinator, as he explained to NOLA.com back in 2012.
“We had our first game Saturday, and we won 30-0,” Payton explained while outlining his role. “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.”
It’s also true that Payton’s NFL expertise played a big part in the team’s offense. How? He used simplified versions of New Orleans’ plays within the dozen his son’s squad ran throughout the season.
“We have 12 plays on the wristband,” Payton said. “The terminology is the same as we used in New Orleans. The kids said, ‘This looks hard.’ But I said, ‘I’ve seen your homework. That’s a lot harder.’ And they’ve done a great job with it.”
And the Liberty Christian Warriors did make improvements under Payton that helped them reach their youth league’s Super Bowl. They lost there against the Springfield Porcupines, who are featured in the film.
So, the story at the center of the movie is true; that said, some elements of the film were exaggerated, as is wont to happen in any picture based on a true story.
Notably, the way that Payton got involved with his son’s team was a lot less dramatic than shown in the movie. As Hardy detailed to The Dallas Morning News, it was actually Payton who approached him to ask if he could volunteer with the squad.
“Hey, I don’t know if you’ve heard or not, but I don’t have a whole lot going on this fall. I know you’ve got a full staff, but I’d love to help out, whether it’s cutting oranges or carrying Gatorade or whatever,” Hardy recalled Payton saying.
Additionally, it’s noteworthy that Payton had only recently filed for divorce from his wife, Beth, in June of 2012. She hadn’t yet remarried, so Rob Schneider’s character in the movie — her new husband, Jaime — was added for comedic purposes only.
The same can be said of many of the quirky, comedic elements of the movie. The scene where the players start projectile vomiting? There’s no evidence that happened. Neither is the scene where one of the coaches passes out drunk on the team bus.
As mentioned, the Bountygate scandal itself isn’t explored in-depth, but given that the movie was written in part by Chris Titone — who is dating Payton’s daughter, Meghan — it’s no surprise that the movie took more of a feel-good and comedic approach.
MORE: Why Sean Payton decided to join Broncos, ride with Russell Wilson
Is Sean Payton in the Kevin James ‘Home Team’ movie?
Yes, Payton does appear in the film. He plays a janitor at the Saints facility in a late-film cameo that occurs after James’ character returns to the team.
You can see the cameo — which lasts less than 20 seconds — below:
Coach @SeanPayton’s cameo in his new Netflix movie, Home Team. Great movie especially for Saints fans! 🎥 pic.twitter.com/3qDiil7EN1
— Drew Leo (@DrewBleez) January 28, 2022
Kevin James Sean Payton movie cast
Payton isn’t the only notable cameo among the “Home Team” cast. Jim Nantz and Dan Patrick also appear in the film as themselves.
Below is the rest of the cast from the “Home Team” movie:
Kevin James as Sean PaytonTaylor Lautner as Troy LambertJackie Sandler as BethRob Schneider as JaimeTait Blum as Connor PaytonGary Valentine as Mitch BizoneMaxwell Simkins as PaulieChloe Fineman as EmilyJacob Perez as MarcosBryant Tardy as DennisManny Magnus as HarlanLiam Kyle as NateChristopher Farrar as JasonMerek Mastrov as BrianIsaiah Mustafa as Porcupine CoachChristopher Titone as WillAshley D. Kelley as CindyLavell Crawford as GusAllen Covert as Referee CovertAnthony L. Fernandez as CalvinJared Sandler as EricSunny Sandler as BrookeJohn Farley as Championship Game RefereeDan Patrick as himselfJim Nantz as himselfSean Payton as Lionel, a janitor.