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Dan Campbell was thrown into the fire when he got his first head-coaching gig three years ago.

He did a fine job -- going 5-7 as the Miami Dolphins' interim coach before they decided to hire Adam Gase in the offseason. But Campbell, who was the youngest coach in the NFL at the time, at 39, also knew he needed more seasoning.

So what better than three years of graduate school under Sean Payton as the New Orleans Saints' assistant head coach and tight ends coach?

Not only is Payton one of the game's best head coaches, but he was also a mentor of Campbell's throughout much of his 10-year playing career as a tight end with the Giants, Cowboys, Lions and Saints.



"It's been extremely helpful," said Campbell, who figures to be a popular head-coaching candidate this cycle at age 42 now that the Saints have re-emerged as one the NFL's hottest teams over the past two seasons.

Campbell already got an interview with the Indianapolis Colts last year.

"You don't know exactly what you're looking for [as a head coach] until you get thrust into that role like I did at Miami. Well, once that doesn't work out, I have a chance to come and learn under Sean, and now you know what you're looking for, and now you know the questions to ask," Campbell said. "So to be able to watch and learn under Sean and see how he deals with situations, see how he deals with management of a game, how he deals with personnel, how he deals with scheme. Just dealing with people, scheduling -- everything.

"You talk about a wealth of knowledge now. So it's been extremely helpful."

In coming to New Orleans, Campbell basically ripped a page out of Payton's playbook.

Probably the best thing Payton did as a young, up-and-coming coach was to land a job on Bill Parcells' staff with the Dallas Cowboys in the early 2000s.

For three years in Dallas, Payton not only ran the Cowboys' offense, but he took notes on everything he could absorb about how to be a head coach. From scheduling to personnel decisions to quotes that still hang in the Saints' locker room to this day.

Parcells is still one of Payton's closest friends and most cherished mentors.

And, oh by the way, it won't hurt Campbell that he comes from that same coaching tree. Campbell played on those Cowboys teams under Parcells and Payton from 2003-05. He later got his start as a coaching assistant under another Parcells protégé, Tony Sparano, with the Dolphins in 2010.

Campbell said that, yes, he absolutely considered the benefits of learning how to be a better head coach under Payton when he chose the Saints over several other suitors in 2016 -- including the Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings.

"But I would tell you that was No. 2 on the list," Campbell said. "No. 1 was I know Sean, and I have a history with Sean. So I just knew about him as a person and as a coach. So to be reunited with him meant the world to me."

What stands out most with Campbell is his presence -- a big, booming voice and a 6-foot-5 frame that doesn't weigh 265 pounds anymore like when he played, but remains chiseled.

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