Former New Orleans Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi has landed a new job.
Rizzi is being hired as the Denver Broncos’ new special teams coordinator. The move will reunite him with Sean Payton, under whom he worked with the Saints previously.
Rizzi, 54, joined the Saints as their special teams coordinator in 2019 and served in that role through 2024. He added assistant head coach duties in 2022. Payton was the Saints’ head coach for Rizzi’s first three years with the team (2019-2021).
Rizzi was named the Saints’ interim head coach after Dennis Allen was fired midseason in 2024. The Saints had gone 2-7 under Allen and then finished 3-5 under Rizzi to end the season 5-12.
Denver had fired special teams coach Ben Kotwica after the season ended. Rizzi was mentioned as an immediate possible replacement, so it’s not a big surprise he has ended up with the role.
The Broncos went 10-7 in 2024, which marked a 2-game improvement following their 8-9 season in Payton’s first year with the team. They reached the playoffs in their first year with rookie Bo Nix at quarterback, and they’re already being viewed as a team on the rise.
Rizzi got a chance to interview for the Saints’ head coach job on a non-interim bases. However, the team decided to hire Kellen Moore as their new head coach.
Rizzi is recognized for his passion as a coach, which is something Broncos fans will probably appreciate.
