Report: Darren Rizzi ‘Likely’ to Become Broncos ST Coach amid Kellen Moore Rumors
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Darren Rizzi could be set to reunite with Sean Payton after finishing out the 2024 season as the New Orleans Saints’ interim head coach.
Rizzi is “likely” to be hired as the Broncos’ new special teams coordinator under Payton, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Friday.
Ian Rapoport @RapSheet
Darren Rizzi has been the favorite in Denver for some time, though the #Broncos will conduct a full and complete search for their new ST coordinator. https://t.co/uaMEVhDUe5
Rizzi previously spent three seasons working with Payton as the Saints’ special teams coordinator between 2019 and 2021.
The news of Rizzi’s potential departure follows an earlier report by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero that the Saints are targeting Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore as their next head coach.
The Saints would need to wait until after the Eagles play in the Super Bowl on Feb. 9 to officially speak with Moore again, Pelissero noted.
But all indications are pointing toward Moore being next in line for the job, given that Pelissero wrote that Saints general manager Mickey Loomis informed other candidates Friday morning about the plan to speak with Moore, and that Moore is already “working on staff.”
Rizzi’s tenure as the Saints’ head coach could now end after eight games.
Tasked with taking over following the mid-season firing of Dennis Allen, Rizzi led the Saints to a 3-5 record, an improvement over the team’s 2-7 start to the campaign.
Rizzi was also involved in designing the NFL’s new dynamic kickoff rule, which the league has reported led to fewer concussions and more returns, ahead of the 2024 season, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter
Saints ST coach Darren Rizzi was at the forefront of the new rule that the NFL believes worked out this season. https://t.co/rPn1X2BbcW
Rizzi reportedly received some buzz regarding a permanent head coaching job after the season, when he interviewed with the New York Jets, who ultimately turned to former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, as well as with Saints.
The Broncos fired special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica after the 2024 season, per ESPN’s Jeff Legwold.
Legwold noted that a pair of “high-profile special teams miscues,” including a blocked field goal in Week 10 against the Kansas City Chiefs Chiefs and a costly fair-catch interference call in Week 16 against the Los Angeles Chargers, led to the team parting ways with Kotwica.
Following Mike Westhoff’s midseason retirement due to health issues, the Broncos need to overhaul their special teams leadership over the offseason.
If the Saints bring in Moore, Rizzi could be available to take the job. Both teams may need to wait until the Eagles play the Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans for the pieces to fall into place.
