The Denver Broncos just got a surprising bit of kicker news out of Sean Paytonâs old building.
NFL insider Ari Meirov reported that the New Orleans Saints are moving on from kicker Blake Grupe after multiple misses this season, less than two years after trading Wil Lutz to Denver so Grupe could take over the job.
The twist has Broncos Country talking. Lutz just landed a three-year extension with the Broncos, while Grupe is out in New Orleans and the Saints are pivoting to Cade York â a sequence that quickly sent the âSean Payton doesnât missâ meme flying around social media.
Lutzâs recent extension serves as a stark contrast
In a twist that has Broncos Country smiling, Lutz is a secured, proven kicker in the NFL, while Grupe is out in New Orleans as the Saints pivot to former Browns pick Cade York.
It did not take long for Broncos Twitter to connect the dots. The account Denver Broncos 365 quote-posted Meirovâs report with a four-word summary of the whole saga: âSean Payton doesnât miss.â
The Saints Moved On From Wil Lutz, but the Broncos Didnât
When Payton arrived in Denver, one of his first reunion moves was to bring in Lutz, who spent his first seven NFL seasons kicking for the Saints under Payton. New Orleans traded Lutz to the Broncos in 2023 specifically to clear the way for Grupe, an undrafted rookie with a big leg and upside.
The gamble never fully paid off. According to Meirovâs post, Grupeâs two misses this weekend pushed his total to eight on the year, a rough number for a team looking for any semblance of stability. After sticking with him through the bumps, the Saints finally pulled the plug and are turning to York.
Meanwhile, Lutz quietly settled in as Denverâs steady leg. He impressed Payton enough to earn a new three-year deal, locking him in as the Broncosâ long-term answer at kicker while the Saints will now be onto their third option since the original trade.
For Broncos fans, the optics are juicy â especially for New Orleans.
What It Means for Sean Payton & the Broncos
On the field, nothing changes immediately for Denver. Lutz was already under contract and entrenched as the starter.
But the move in New Orleans reinforces the idea that Paytonâs trust in his former kicker was more than just nostalgia. Denver cycled through kickers in recent seasons; now they have stability at a position that often only gets noticed when things go wrong.
It also adds another small data point in Paytonâs favor as the Broncos continue leveling up their roster and building a contender. The head coach took plenty of heat for veteran-leaning decisions early in his Denver tenure. This one, at least, looks like a clear win: the team that gave up Lutz is still searching for answers, while the team that acquired him just doubled down.
If Lutz continues to deliver in key late-season spots, the contrast between Denverâs stability and New Orleansâ revolving door could look even sharper.
âSean Payton Doesnât Missâ: Broncos Fans React to Blake Grupe Release
The kicker news immediately turned into a mini-victory lap on social media.
Broncos fans responded to the Grupe report with screenshots of Lutzâs extension, jokes about the original trade and plenty of Payton memes. The âSean Payton doesnât missâ line quickly became the go-to caption as fans pointed out that the coachâs faith in Lutz has already outlasted the Saintsâ patience with Grupe.
It is only a kicker move, but in a league where thin margins decide seasons, Broncos Country will happily claim any win it can â especially one that makes a former Payton team look like it backed the wrong leg.
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