NEW ORLEANS – In a prolific career as head coach of the Saints, Sean Payton addressed his teams dozens of times after big wins.

On Thursday night in New Orleans, Payton and his team earned another victory. Only this time, Payton was in the visiting locker room in the aftermath of a crucial victory.

And as Payton stood in a fog-filled locker room, Broncos owner and CEO Greg Penner presented Payton with a game ball to commemorate the win on his return to the Big Easy.

“It meant a lot,” Payton said after the Broncos’ 33-10 win over the Saints. “…It meant a lot because there were a lot of moments here.”

During his tenure as head coach of the Saints, he recorded the most wins and posted the highest winning percentage in franchise history. Payton led the Saints to their only Super Bowl title and recorded nine playoff victories.

Payton became only the second head coach in NFL history to win at least 150 games with an organization that faced his former team. However, unlike Hall of Famer Curly Lambeau, Payton scored a win in his return. Payton is also the second coach since 2000 to win his first road game against his former team in at least ten seasons.

In the hours before the Broncos’ primetime win, Payton honored some of those moments. He and several other former Saints coaches stopped briefly at Drew Brees’ Saints Hall of Fame induction luncheon. Closer to kickoff, Payton visited former players and coaches on the field.

He then took on his new team and earned a victory that pushed the Broncos to 4-3 – and also reminded Payton why he coaches.

“Being with this team and this ownership group, that’s what makes you miss it,” Payton said. “When you get to a year later, you miss relationships and you miss making memories. It’s like I told (the team) a few weeks ago (about CB Pat) Surtain’s interception right in front of our bench. There will come a day when I I don’t remember his name, and I’m drinking applesauce out of a straw, but I will remember that play, being around young people and having the opportunity to be part of their journey and coach them is a… pretty well done, and I’m grateful for it.”

Payton said before the game that emotions would return as he faces the Saints for the first time as opposing head coach, but he also focused on the importance of getting a win. The Broncos were able to get that win on Thursday and Payton joined a select group of head coaches who have defeated all 32 teams in their careers.

“It was awesome,” said quarterback Bo Nix of the team that presented Payton with a game ball. “The Saints mean a lot to him. He was there for a while. Had great success and it’s hard to go back to a place that you called home for so long and fought for and now you’re playing against. It was special. It was a great moment. I’m happy for him.”

Running back Javonte Williams said he could see the importance of the win and that “it was something that was close to his heart” by the way Payton addressed the team after the game. Payton acknowledged it was “emotional” to receive the game ball and return to the place where he started his head coaching career.

Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto put it even more simply when asked what it meant to be able to get a win for their head coach.

“It meant everything,” Bonitto said.