Sean Payton, Head Coach
For more than a decade, Sean Payton has leveraged his platform, resources, and leadership to improve the lives of military veterans facing some of the invisible wounds of service. Motivated by his father's military service and a deep respect for those who have served our country, Payton has become a consistent advocate for veterans through his longstanding support of K9s For Warriors, an organization dedicated to ending veteran suicide by pairing veterans with highly trained service dogs. Payton's involvement began in 2013 when he funded the training of Gumbo, a service dog paired with a veteran living with traumatic brain injury and PTSD. Recognizing the effectiveness and urgency of the organization's mission, Payton expanded his support through his Play It Forward Foundation, raising more than $200,000 for veteran-service programs and increasing awareness of the challenges many veterans face after their military service ends. After joining the Denver Broncos, he helped establish a club partnership with K9s For Warriors focused on serving Colorado veterans. Beyond funding the training of Bucky and Thunder in 2023, Crush in 2024, and Elway in 2025, Payton has used his platform to elevate awareness of veteran mental health and the life-changing impact of service-dog partnerships. Through personal giving, advocacy, and sustained leadership, he has supported more than 25 veteran-service dog teams, helping veterans regain confidence, rebuild routines, and reconnect with family and community. By turning gratitude into action, Payton continues to embody the spirit and purpose of Salute to Service.