Here’s the big tell everyone was waiting for. Darren Rizzi appears to have his next job lined up after working as the New Orleans Saints interim head coach this season — NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Rizzi “is likely to become the new Broncos special teams coordinator.” Rizzi was brought to the Saints by Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton when he was running the operation in New Orleans, so it makes sense he would partner up again with Rizzi when given the chance.
Of course it isn’t as simple as Rizzi swapping his Saints hat for a Broncos cap and getting on a flight to Denver this Monday morning. NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill clarifies that “Denver has not yet requested to interview him” and that while Rizzi would be the favorite for this job, he’s going to wait until the Saints officially name their next head coach before moving on.
And that candidate is expected to be Kellen Moore. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis told other candidates for the job on Friday that he was focused on continuing negotiations with the Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator, and that he wouldn’t make a final decision on the job until after Super Bowl LIX. That’s when NFL rules allow Moore to next speak with the Saints and accept the job. The Broncos are going to at least consider their options for a special teams coordinator, but the expectation should be that Rizzi will end up on staff with Payton once again.
