Trying to keep it rolling without Payton and everyone else is the WRONG move imo

If they try to retain the current staff and promote from within, I can't help but think Payton is just taking a long break and will be coming back.

If they start to firesale coaches or bring in a HC and let him bring in his own staff... then Payton's done done.
Has any coach in the history of the NFL taken off a year voluntarily and come back to the same team? That's not happening.

What happens if DA goes 14-2. Sorry Dennis, Payton's back.