Coronavirus hits the NFL as New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton tests positive

ESPN

The Super Bowl-winning head coach, age 56, is the first person in the NFL world to test positive for the virus, reports ESPN's Adam Schefter, who adds: "Payton said he didn't feel well this past Sunday, took the test Monday, and received the results Thursday afternoon. Payton is resting at home, fatigued, but said he is part of the 20 percent of the cases that have no fever and no cough. But he will self-quarantine in his home through the weekend, and he said he is upbeat and optimistic about a full recovery." It was just five days ago that Payton was talking about coronavirus in a TV interview at a horse racing event. "This is not just about social distancing," Payton tells ESPN. "It's shutting down here for a week to two weeks. If people understand the curve, and understand the bump, we can easily work together as a country to reduce it. Take a minute to understand what the experts are saying. It's not complicated to do what they're asking of us. Just that type of small investment by every one of us will have a dramatic impact."