There was a point in time in which Sean Payton seemed destined to be the next head coach of the LA Chargers. Instead, the Chargers gave Brandon Staley one more year before eventually firing him while Payton took another job in the AFC West with the Denver Broncos.
It ended up working out for the best for the Chargers as the team lured Jim Harbaugh back to the NFL. Best of all, the Chargers didn't have to trade premium draft capital to hire Harbaugh like the Broncos did with Payton.
One of Payton's first hires as head coach of the Broncos was former Chargers offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, who spent time with Payton in New Orleans. Lombardi was despised when he was with the Chargers, so him joining the dark side didn't illicit any more ill will.
However, the latest addition to the Broncos coaching staff may have the opposite effect. Payton is tapping back into his New Orleans ties, this time with a former player of his. Former Chargers running back Darren Sproles will officially join the Broncos on a coaching internship this fall.
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Sproles spent more time away from the Chargers than he did with the Chargers during his NFL career. He still became a massive fan favorite during his short run with the Chargers after turning in one of the most memorable moments in franchise history against the Indianapolis Colts in the playoffs.
Sproles spent three seasons with the Saints and six seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles after his five-year stint with the Chargers. Neither team is a rival of the Chargers, so there was never a reason for Chargers fans to care where Sproles went.
Now there is a reason to care. Sproles can still be beloved as a former fan favorite but his stock in the fanbase will take a hit after taking this Broncos job. No Chargers fans should blame Sproles for doing so, but they don't have to openly root for him to succeed.
It's surprising the Chargers didn't give Sproles an opportunity with him being interested in coaching. Harbaugh really seems to value former players on the coaching staff, hence why he gave an opportunity to linebackers coach NaVorro Bowman.
Harbaugh doesn't have that same connection with Sproles that he does with Bowman as their paths have never crossed, though. Ultimately, Sproles' connection with his former head coach in New Orleans is what is getting him into coaching in the first place.
Who knows... in a perfect world maybe Sproles will serve the internship in Denver before jumping ship back home to the Chargers.