Another option just opened up for interim New Orleans Saints head coach Darren Rizzi. Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos fired their special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo. The Broncos finished in the top half of the league for yards allowed on both punt returns (251) and kick returns (604), but they were tied for the sixth-highest average of yards per punt allowed (48.7) and gave up the second-most punting yardage (3,849). Only the Cleveland Browns were worse. Clearly that wasn’t good enough.
Rizzi is interviewing for the Saints’ full-time head coaching position on Friday. But if he doesn’t get that job and doesn’t plan on working under someone else considered for it, it’s easy to imagine him joining Payton and many of his former coworkers in Denver. Payton brought Rizzi to New Orleans back in 2019.
He has a lot of special teams experience even before coming to the Saints. Rizzi coached the Miami Dolphins kicking units for years and he’s widely regarded around the league. Even if he doesn’t end up in Denver or stay in New Orleans, he shouldn’t be out of work long. We’ll just have to wait and see what’s next for him.
