The Denver Broncos have hired former New Orleans Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi as their new special teams coordinator, a league source confirmed to The Athletic on Friday.
Rizzi, 54, was a finalist for the Saints’ permanent head coach position before they hired former Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore on Tuesday. He replaces Ben Kotwica, who was fired in January after two years in Denver. Kotwica’s firing came after the special teams guru who brought him to Denver in 2023, assistant head coach Mike Westhoff, resigned midway through last season due to health issues.
Rizzi has worked in the NFL since 2009, when he joined the Miami Dolphins as assistant special teams coach following a 17-year college coaching career. He was the Dolphins’ special teams coordinator for the next nine seasons before being hired by Sean Payton to run the special teams operation in New Orleans in 2019.
Rizzi became the Saints’ interim head coach in 2024 following six years as special teams coordinator after the organization fired Dennis Allen in November amid a seven-game losing streak. The Saints went 3-5 during Rizzi’s time as interim coach.
Even in a down year for the Saints overall (5-12), their special teams units remained a strength. New Orleans blocked three kicks — one punt and a field goal attempt — and ranked first in opponent’s averaging starting field position after kickoff returns (their own 28.5-yard line), according to TruMedia. The Saints also ranked fifth in average punt return (12.5) and were sixth overall in special teams EPA (expected points added) — two spots ahead of the Broncos.
In Denver, Rizzi inherits one of the league’s most dynamic returners in Marvin Mims Jr., a Pro Bowler at the position in each of his first two seasons. Mims led the NFL in punt return average (15.7 yards) last season. The coach will also reunite with Wil Lutz, who was the kicker in New Orleans during three of Rizzi’s first four seasons. Lutz tied a Broncos single-season record in 2024 with 31 made field goals, and has made 89.7 percent of his field goals overall since joining the club via a trade just before the 2023 season.
Improving kicking game among Rizzi’s top priorities
One of Rizzi’s first decisions will be identifying a punter. Riley Dixon was solid in 2024, finishing 11th in net punting average (42.2 yards) and fourth in total punts downed inside the 5-yard line (five) — but he is now an unrestricted free agent.
The Broncos made a major jump on special teams during Kotwica’s tenure after having one of the worst units in the league in 2022. But the progress was marred by a critical mistake during Denver’s most painful loss of the season in Week 10. Lutz had a would-be game-winning 35-yard field goal against the Kansas City Chiefs blocked as time expired because linebacker Leo Chenal plowed through offensive lineman Alex Forsyth, a weak link the Chiefs had identified in Denver’s field-goal operation.
The Broncos were also outplayed on special teams during their 31-7 wild-card loss to the Buffalo Bills.
What’s next for Payton, Broncos after hiring Rizzi?
Payton still has several coaching positions to fill on his staff.
He needs a new tight ends coach after Declan Doyle was hired to be the new offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears.
The Broncos also have an opening for an inside linebackers coach after firing Greg Manusky, and pass-game coordinator with John Morton taking the offensive coordinator role with the Detroit Lions. It’s not yet clear whether the Broncos will hire a new coach in that role or distribute Morton’s duties to other parts of the offensive staff.
Additionally, the team will also need to add an assistant special teams coach after Chris Banjo, who filled that role under Kotwica the past two seasons, was hired to be the special teams coordinator for recently hired New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn.
Rizzi is now one of six coaches on Payton’s staff who previously worked for him in New Orleans.
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