It’s no coincidence that Denver Broncos safety P.J. Locke’s rise as one of the team’s most important players coincides with Sean Payton‘s arrival. The 27-year-old is coming off arguably his best season as a Bronco, which also happens to be Payton’s first year sitting at the helm.
It goes without saying that Payton has placed a lot of trust in Locke, and the former Texas standout has repaid his coach’s loyalty with strong performances on the field.
Denver Broncos News: P.J. Locke Has Nothing But Love for Sean Payton
Locke recognizes how much Payton has helped him develop into the player he is today. He’s always had the potential, but it was under Payton’s tutelage that this was unlocked.
For his part, Locke has nothing but good things to say about his head coach:
“He just gave me some confidence that he has confidence in me. That goes a long way with me. When a coach has confidence in me, it’s gives me a boost of energy and confidence in myself. When I play confident, I’m dangerous,” Locke said about his relationship with Payton, via Zac Stevens of The DNVR. “I have the upmost respect for Coach Payton. We had plenty of talks about just my journey getting to the NFL.”
Locke is now expected to build on the success of last season with an even better campaign in 2024. He remains confident in his ability, and it is clear that Payton’s trust has gone a long way in pushing this young man to be the best version of himself.
A Two-Way Street
Payton has pretty much seen it all in what has been a colorful near-two-decade career as an NFL head coach. Through the years, the veteran shot-caller has dealt with all kinds of players. At this point, Payton knows how to recognize a gem when he sees it, and this is exactly the case for Locke in Denver.
“He began to create that vision for himself, to his credit,” the head coach said following the Broncos’ OTA practice on June 4, talking about Locke taking a bigger role on defense in 2023. “[He was] closer to the ball as a pressure player, also in coverage. [It is] great to see him out there healthy. I think he earned some of those snaps and the confidence level for him.”
“… He’s one of the players when I talk about, ‘You see confidence through demonstrated [ability].’ He saw it and felt it and then we saw it. It’s pretty powerful. He’s smart and he’s tough.”
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