New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton has been suspended for the 2012 NFL season as punishment for operating a bounty programme in which defensive players received cash bonuses for injuring opponents.
The team was also hit with a $US500,000 ($A478,000) fine.
In the most severe penalty ever levelled by the NFL against one of their teams, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis also received an eight-game suspension, while former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who is now with the St Louis Rams, will be suspended indefinitely.
The NFL announced earlier this month that an investigation had uncovered the existence of the bounty payments, which are explicitly banned under league rules.
The NFL said Williams offered the bounties from 2009 to 2011, including a $1500 cash bonus for hits that knocked opposing players out of the game.
"A combination of elements made this matter particularly unusual and egregious," commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.
"When there is targeting of players for injury and cash rewards over a three-year period, the involvement of the coaching staff, and three years of denials and wilful disrespect of the rules, a strong and lasting message must be sent that such conduct is totally unacceptable and has no place in the game."
Goodell said punishment against individual players for participating in the bounty program is still being reviewed with the NFL Players Association and will be addressed at a later date.
Saints assistant head coach Joe Vitt was also hit with a six-game ban for his participation in the program.
Payton's suspension without pay will begin April 1.
