‘Home Team’: The true story of New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton (2024)

Netflix’s newest release “Home Team” is an Adam Sandler-produced true story starring Kevin James, Taylor Lautner and Rob Schneider. The film follows the story of New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton, who was suspended in 2012 for his involvement in giving bonuses to players who purposefully injured opponents. During his suspension, Payton became the offensive coach for his son’s middle school football team. In January 2013, Payton was reinstated as the Saints head coach, and just announced his retirement this past week.

The film begins with real footage of the New Orleans Saints’ Super Bowl victory starring Payton, played by Kevin James in the film. Shortly after, Payton is suspended and ventures back to his hometown, where his 12-year-old son Connor (Tait Blum) and ex-wife Beth (Jackie Sandler) still reside. Having his career put on hold, Payton decides to attempt to repair the relationship he has with his son, whom he rarely gets to see due to his career. While watching another one of their devastating losses, Payton can’t stop himself from giving Head Coach Troy Lambert (Taylor Lautner) some tips. Next thing you know, Coach Lambert convinces Payton to join the coaching staff and bring his son’s team to victory.

While on the surface the film is about transforming a below average team into one that succeeds, there are many underlying layers. The audience witnesses the struggle between Connor and his dad, and the resentment he has toward him for being an absent father. Payton, in the process of owning his mistakes, is forced to reflect on his journey both on and off the field. Immediately, he transforms the mentality of the team and shifts their entire game play. While initially all the young players were excited, the National Championship pressure becomes too much to handle. Coach Payton is forced to put his determination to win aside and prioritize his players’ morale, no matter the outcome.

While I rarely ever watch football and don’t know much about the game, I absolutely loved “Home Team.” To start off, the cast is amazing. The dynamic between the coaching staff, the young kids and the parents in the stands creates a humorous atmosphere that truly had me laughing out loud. Through the laughter, I found myself rooting for Payton and Connor’s relationship. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to have an absent father figure during some of the most influential years of your life, so witnessing Payton put in effort to repair that relationship was endearing. Ultimately, the film is about never giving up, no matter how people perceive you. Whether you’re the underdog or the No. 1 ranked team, the most important aspect of the game is to have fun and enjoy yourself. If not, then what’s the point?

If you’re looking for a feel-good film about rising from the bottom, repairing broken relationships and reminding yourself that nothing is that serious, then this is the perfect film for you. If you’re not a fan of football or don’t consider yourself a sports enthusiast, don’t let that stop you! I’m not either, and I thoroughly enjoyed every second.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

‘Home Team’: The true story of New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton (2024)

FAQs

‘Home Team’: The true story of New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton? ›

Home Team is a true story but takes liberties with certain elements of the Bountygate scandal, causing controversy among viewers. Sean Payton actually coached his son's middle school football team during his suspension from the NFL.

Is Home Team based on Sean Payton? ›

Home Team, the family-friendly football comedy starring Kevin James, is the latest entry in the genre, and it's based on a very real situation that happened to New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton. Back in 2012, Payton was suspended from the NFL for a year.

How accurate was the Home Team movie? ›

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.

Why did Sean Payton quit the Saints? ›

Payton left on his own accord, not as a direct cause of any one thing or a decision made by someone else. He announced his departure during a Tuesday press conference in 2022. “I felt like it was time maybe heading into training camp,” Payton said. “I felt the time was right for me.”

Who was behind Bountygate? ›

So, what was Payton's role in the scandal? The NFL found that he was aware of the bounty program and made no effort to stop it. The league's investigation found that Payton and Saints general manager Mickey Loomis were guilty of “conduct detrimental” to the league, according to NFL.com.

Does Sean Payton know his son? ›

How did the Saints get caught for bounty? ›

In the 2010 offseason, an anonymous player told NFL officials that the Saints had targeted Favre and Warner as part of a bounty program administered by Williams; the NFL's security department found the allegations credible enough to open an investigation.

Where did they film Home Team? ›

Home Team was produced by Adam Sandler's Happy Madison Productions and James's Hey Eddie Productions, and filmed in New Orleans from May to June 2021. It was released on January 28, 2022, by Netflix.

What is Sean Payton doing now? ›

Patrick Sean Payton (born December 29, 1963) is an American football coach and former quarterback who is the head coach for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL).

Why did Sean Payton get kicked off the team? ›

Payton's suspension stemmed from his involvement in a scandal known as the "Bountygate," which involved the team's scheme to pay players for intentionally injuring opponents. This article delves into the details surrounding Payton's suspension and its lasting impact on his career and the Saints' franchise.

What did the Saints give up for Sean Payton? ›

In part, the terms for Payton's return, after a season working with the NFL pregame crew at Fox, included Denver sending the Saints its first-round pick this year (No. 29 overall) and its second-round in 2024, in exchange for Payton and the Saints' third-round pick in 2024.

How much does Sean Payton make? ›

Sean Payton, who returned to the sidelines with the Denver Broncos in 2023, inked a five-year contract that ranks second based on average annual value (AAV) at roughly $18 million per year.

Why did Sean Payton scream at Wilson? ›

"The anger and frustration in that sequence comes from the fourth-down call and the touchdown then was later called a penalty," Payton said. "And now we're sitting at fourth-and-call-it-6 instead of fourth-and-half-a yard.

Why did Russell get benched? ›

Russell Wilson says Denver Broncos benched him for refusing contract change.

Why is Russell leaving the Broncos? ›

The Russell Wilson era is over in Denver. The Broncos on Monday released the veteran quarterback after a season of conflict with head coach Sean Payton, and the former Super Bowl champion signal-caller can sign with any team as a free agent.

Is Connor Payton in Home Team? ›

Rob Schneider as Jamie, Beth's current husband. Tait Blum as Connor Payton, the son of Sean Payton and Beth and the stepson of Jamie.

What determines the Home Team at the Super Bowl? ›

How is the home team chosen at the Super Bowl? There's nothing fancy about the home team determination for the Super Bowl. It alternates each year from the AFC representative to the NFC representative and back again.

Why did Kevin James play Sean Payton? ›

He didn't hear about it until his friend asked if he'd want to play Sean Payton. “Sandler called me a few months before we made the movie and he said, 'This story happened and would you like to do it? '” recalls James, a lifelong Jets fan. “And I was blown away by it.

Was Adam Sandler in the Home Team? ›

Is Adam Sandler In Home Team? Adam Sandler unfortunately does not appear in Home Team. However, Sandler's signature style is still apparent in the film, as he did produce Home Team through his company, Happy Madison Productions.

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