Who Is Sean Payton’s Ex Wife And Husband? The Personal Life Behind NFL’s Forward-Thinking Coach

Functioning at the high-stakes intersection of football and personal legacy, Sean Payton’s marital journey reflects a life balanced between public intensity and quiet devotion. Though best known as a transformative NFL head coach—most notably with the New Orleans Saints—Payton’s relationships outside the gridiron reveal a commitment rooted in enduring partnership. The core questions surrounding his ex-wife and husband underscore both emotional depth and resilience: Who was the woman who stood beside him through pivotal professional years, and who stood by him during pivotal personal transitions?

Payton’s most significant marital relationship was with DeYanna Fitzgerald. The couple married in 2013, forming a union that lasted over a decade before its dissolution around 2023. Fitzgerald, a former model and fashion enthusiast, brought a different rhythm to Payton’s world—one grounded in creativity and media presence.

Her calm demeanor reportedly complemented Payton’s dynamic, high-energy persona, offering a grounding force amid the relentless demands of coaching elite athletes. Their marriage produced two children, shielding layers of their family life from public spotlight, yet symbolizing a sustained bond through professional highs and the trials of on-court realities.

Over the years, Payton’s path included a brief but notable marriage to Carla Taylor, a union that ended before Fitzgerald.

Described by close associates as brief and distinct from his later personal stability, this relationship lasted only a short time and rarely entered media discourse. In contrast, DeYanna became indispensable during the peak seasons: the Saints’ 2019 Super Bowl championship-winning campaign, high-pressure playoffs, and the emotional aftermath of key player departures. Their partnership endured public scrutiny but remained marked by mutual respect and shared discretion.

Payton’s personal life, while private by nature, demonstrates a clear continuity of core values—loyalty, quiet strength, and family care—mirrored in both his ex-wives’ roles.

Fitzgerald, who maintained a profile rooted in style and community involvement, stood firmly by Payton through both celebration and heartbreak, becoming a fixture during his return to coaching leadership in New Orleans. Her presence highlights how personal relationships can anchor a public figure’s identity, balancing triumph with vulnerability.

DeYanna Fitzgerald’s influence extended beyond traditional supporting roles; she often represented the quiet strength behind one of the NFL’s most prominent coaches, embodying the stability that allowed Payton to focus on strategy and performance.

Their relationship offers a rare window into how iconic sports figures navigate love outside the game’s headlines—without spectacle, yet profoundly meaningful.

Seeing Payton’s bond with DeYanna Fitzgerald alongside his earlier relationship with Carla Taylor reveals a pattern of emotional depth within a carefully guarded personal life. While celebrity marriages often unfold under intense media gaze, Fitzgerald’s steady involvement underscores a partnership forged through shared respect, private resilience, and deep mutual commitment.

Whether through Fitzgerald’s understated elegance or the professional studiose nod to shared goals, Sean Payton’s ex-wives remain integral to understanding the man behind the coaching genius—proof that even in the spotlight, lasting connection thrives in quiet, enduring ways.