The Denver Broncos traded up in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft to select LSU defensive end Sai’vion Jones last month.
Jones grew up in the New Orleans Metropolitan Area watching Sean Payton coach the New Orleans Saints. It’s no surprise then, that the rookie defensive lineman is excited to join the Super Bowl-winning coach in Denver.
“When it comes to being under people who are also from Louisiana, it’s just like a different feeling,” Jones said of Payton. “We haven’t talked that much, but just having that bond, that bond knowing that [we have a connection to] Louisiana… It’s all we need right there to be honest.”
Payton certainly isn’t the only connection to Louisiana on Denver’s staff.
Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph grew up in Louisiana, and his cousin, Mickey Joseph, served as an assistant head coach and wide receivers coach at LSU in Jones’ freshman season. Additionally, Beau Lowery, Denver’s vice president of player health and performance, was the director of sports medicine at LSU for Jones’ first three seasons with the Tigers.
Perhaps most notable, though, is Jones’ connection to Broncos defensive line coach Jamar Cain, who held that same title at LSU in 2022 when Jones had a breakthrough year with the Tigers.
“It’s great,” Jones said. “I’m glad he’s there, not because I knew he was going to pick me up or something like that — I didn’t know that actually — just the fact that he knows what kind of player is coming into the facility already. He knows I’m going to give 100 percent, and I’m going to do whatever they ask me to do.”
Jones is set to report for rookie minicamp later this week, followed by organized team activities later in the month and then mandatory minicamp in June (full offseason schedule). There will be several familiar faces when Jones arrives at Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit, and that should help his NFL transition go smoothly.
Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Broncos: Sai’vion Jones eager to join New Orleans legend Sean Payton
The Denver Broncos traded up in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft to select LSU defensive end Sai’vion Jones last month.
Jones grew up in the New Orleans Metropolitan Area watching Sean Payton coach the New Orleans Saints. It’s no surprise then, that the rookie defensive lineman is excited to join the Super Bowl-winning coach in Denver.
“When it comes to being under people who are also from Louisiana, it’s just like a different feeling,” Jones said of Payton. “We haven’t talked that much, but just having that bond, that bond knowing that [we have a connection to] Louisiana… It’s all we need right there to be honest.”
Payton certainly isn’t the only connection to Louisiana on Denver’s staff.
Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph grew up in Louisiana, and his cousin, Mickey Joseph, served as an assistant head coach and wide receivers coach at LSU in Jones’ freshman season. Additionally, Beau Lowery, Denver’s vice president of player health and performance, was the director of sports medicine at LSU for Jones’ first three seasons with the Tigers.
Perhaps most notable, though, is Jones’ connection to Broncos defensive line coach Jamar Cain, who held that same title at LSU in 2022 when Jones had a breakthrough year with the Tigers.
“It’s great,” Jones said. “I’m glad he’s there, not because I knew he was going to pick me up or something like that — I didn’t know that actually — just the fact that he knows what kind of player is coming into the facility already. He knows I’m going to give 100 percent, and I’m going to do whatever they ask me to do.”
Jones is set to report for rookie minicamp later this week, followed by organized team activities later in the month and then mandatory minicamp in June (full offseason schedule). There will be several familiar faces when Jones arrives at Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit, and that should help his NFL transition go smoothly.
Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Broncos: Sai’vion Jones eager to join New Orleans legend Sean Payton
