Tag: Chris Banjo

Broncos have lost 9 staff members in 2025 following Rob Paton’s departure

Rob Paton has left the Broncos’ scouting department to join the Jets. He is the ninth employee to leave Denver this offseason.

Yet another Denver Broncos employee has left the club.

Broncos scout Rob “Robbie” Paton is leaving the team to become a co-director of player personnel for the New York Jets, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. Paton will now reunite with Jets general manager Darren Mougey, who left Denver this offseason for a promotion in New York.

Paton played safety at UCLA before coaching defensive backs at Loyola High School and then returning to the Bruins as a scouting analyst. He was hired by the Broncos in 2017, four years before his uncle, George Paton, became the team’s general manager.

The younger Paton is the ninth staff member to leave Denver this offseason.

Broncos staff departures

  1. Ben Kotwica (fired)
  2. Greg Manusky (fired)
  3. Darren Mougey (joined Jets)
  4. Rob Paton (joined Jets)
  5. Chris Banjo (joined Jets)
  6. John Morton (joined Lions)
  7. David Shaw (joined Lions)
  8. Mark Thewes (joined Raiders)
  9. Declan Doyle (joined Bears)

Now in addition to identifying players to bring in this offseason, George Paton and Broncos coach Sean Payton will also have to fill several key staff positions. Get ready for a busy offseason in Denver.

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Former Saints safety set to join New York Jets as special teams coordinator

Former Saints safety Chris Banjo is set to become the New York Jets special teams coordinator, reuniting him with Aaron Glenn:

The New Orleans Saints have another former player moving to a new coaching staff this offseason. One of their old defensive backs Chris Banjo has joined Aaron Glenn’s New York Jets to be their special teams coordinator. This comes after former Saints quarterback J.T. Barrett moved on from the Detroit Lions to the Chicago Bears to become their quarterbacks coach as well.

Banjo played for the Saints from 2016 to 2018, and decided to pursue a coaching career with the Denver Broncos under Sean Payton in 2023, staying there through last season as an assistant special teams coach. He performed well and has now received a promotion elsewhere, joining a former Saints coach in Glenn on the Jets, who was just hired as their head coach. Glenn worked closely with Banjo when he was the team’s defensive backs coach from 2016 to 2020.

The Saints connections seem to always find a way to get jobs together and find new teams to build out the Payton tree, and that has continued immensely this offseason.

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Former Packers DB Chris Banjo hired as Jets special teams coordinator

Former Packers DB Chris Banjo was hired by the Jets as the team’s new special teams coordinator.

Long-time special teamer Chris Banjo, who played his first games in the NFL as an undrafted free agent signed by the Green Bay Packers, has been named the special teams coordinator of the New York Jets. The team announced the hiring on Friday.

Banjo spent the last two seasons as the assistant special teams coordinator for the Denver Broncos under Sean Payton and Mike Westhoff. Now, Banjo will lead a special teams unit for the first time under first-year head coach Aaron Glenn in New York.

Banjo, now 34, retired from the NFL in 2023. He played in 131 career games (and 10 playoff games) and was on the field for almost 2,500 total special teams snaps while playing for three different franchises — the Packers, New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals.

Banjo went undrafted out of SMU. Packers general manager Ted Thompson signed him in late July before the start of training camp in 2013, and Banjo almost immediately became a core special teamer in Green Bay.

As a first-year player, Banjo played over 250 special teams snaps. In 2015, Banjo led the team in special teams tackles and was a playoff captain on special teams. He was waived by the Packers with an injury settlement in 2016.

Banjo played three seasons with the Saints and four seasons with the Cardinals after departing Green Bay.

According to the Jets, Banjo made 58 tackles covering kickoffs in his NFL career.

Wil Lutz reacts to Broncos losing assistant special teams coach

“Loved playing for this dude the last two years,” Wil Lutz wrote. “So much respect for Banjo during our time as teammates, and as my coach!”

The Denver Broncos have lost all three special teams coaches from the Sean Payton era.

Assistant head coach Mike Westhoff retired last November, special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica was fired earlier this month and assistant special teams coach Chris Banjo just left to become the new ST coordinator of the New York Jets. All three coached under Sean Payton from 2023-2024 in Denver.

Broncos kicker Wil Lutz took to Twitter/X on Wednesday to react to the news of Banjo leaving for a promotion elsewhere.

“Loved playing for this dude the last two years,” Lutz tweeted. “So much respect for Banjo during our time as teammates, and as my coach! He changed our special teams as a player in New Orleans, and brought energy and knowledge as a coach in Denver. NYJ got a good one!”

Banjo, 34, was a safety and special teams ace in the NFL from 2013-2022. His 10-year career included a stint with the New Orleans Saints, and he joined Payton’s staff in 2023 immediately after hanging up his cleats. Banjo’s quick rise as a coach has landed him a promotion in New York.

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Broncos have to fill 5 positions on Sean Payton’s coaching staff

The Broncos need to fill five positions on Sean Payton’s coaching staff this offseason.

The Denver Broncos were hit hard by other clubs poaching coaching staff talent this offseason.

The Broncos lost assistant special teams coach Chris Banjo to the New York Jets, passing game coordinator John Morton to the Detroit Lions and tight ends coach Declan Doyle to the Chicago Bears.

The 2025 Broncos are the first team since the 2021 Los Angeles Rams to have three coaches poached for coordinator jobs, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Additionally, Denver fired special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica and inside linebackers coach Greg Manusky. That gives the team five total positions on Sean Payton’s staff that need to be filled this offseason.

Broncos coaching staff openings

  1. Special teams coordinator
  2. Assistant special teams coach 
  3. Tight ends coach
  4. Passing game coordinator
  5. Inside linebackers coach 

Ex-senior personnel executive David Shaw also left for a coaching role with the Lions, but his old position is not necessarily one that needs to be filled.

Former New Orleans Saints interim coach/special teams coach Darren Rizzi is considered a top candidate to get the special teams coordinator job in Denver, and Phil Galiano could join him as an assistant.

Former New England Patriots tight ends coach Bob Bicknell could be a potential candidate to fill the TEs coach position in Denver, per Klis. Bicknell coached with Broncos senior offensive assistant Pete Carmichael with the New Orleans Saints from 2022-2023 when Carmichael was an offensive coordinator.

We will track all of Denver’s coaching staff moves on Broncos Wire.

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Broncos lose yet another coach (but a new hire could soon follow)

Chris Banjo is set to leave the Broncos to become the Jets’ ST coordinator. Meanwhile, Darren Rizzi might be in line to get Denver’s ST job.

The Denver Broncos have lost yet another member of Sean Payton’s coaching staff.

Broncos assistant special teams coach Chris Banjo is set to leave the team to become the new special teams coordinator of the New York Jets, according to a report from KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Denver now has five coaching staff openings.

Banjo, 34, was a safety and special teams ace in the NFL from 2013-2022, spending time with four teams, including a stint with the New Orleans Saints under Payton. When Payton became the Broncos’ head coach in 2023, he hired Banjo as an assistant coach right after the ex-safety retired from playing.

Denver has now lost all three special teams coaches from last season. Mike Westhoff retired last November, Ben Kotwica was fired earlier this month and Banjo has now left for a promotion elsewhere.

The good news for the Broncos is that ex-Saints interim head coach/special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi could be joining Payton’s staff soon. Kellen Moore is believed to be a leading candidate to get the head coach job in New Orleans, which would make Rizzi available for Denver.

If Rizzi does not get the HC job with the Saints, he will likely land with the Broncos and Klis has reported that assistant Phil Galiano could join Rizzi in Denver. Rizzi potentially landing with the Broncos might not be finalized until after New Orleans makes its hire official.

We will track all of Denver’s coaching staff moves on Broncos Wire.

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Mike McCarthy’s decision could impact the Broncos

Mike McCarthy won’t join the Saints. Now all eyes turn to Darren Rizzi, who is a candidate for the Broncos’ special teams job.

Mike McCarthy will not become the next head coach of the New Orleans Saints.

McCarthy has decided to not take a head coach job in 2025, opting to instead focus on the 2026 hiring cycle, similar to the decision Mike Vrabel made last year.

Unfortunately, McCarthy’s delay could have big implications for the Denver Broncos. McCarthy was perhaps the most high-profile coach available for the Saints, and New Orleans must now focus on other options.

Yesterday, KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis reported that if McCarthy or Kellen Moore are hired by the Saints, ex-interim coach/special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi would be in line to become Denver’s new ST coach.

McCarthy won’t take the job. Now we wait to see if Moore gets it. If Moore also turns it down, Rizzi might become a leading candidate.

Meanwhile, Broncos assistant special teams coach Chris Banjo has also received interest from other clubs, including the New York Jets. If Rizzi ends up staying in New Orleans, perhaps Denver will consider promoting Banjo. Stay tuned.

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Yet another Broncos coach is a candidate to leave this offseason

Broncos pass game coordinator is a candidate for the Lions’ offensive coordinator position.

Sean Payton built quite the staff with the Denver Broncos.

Now other clubs are starting to poach from that staff.

So far this offseason, the Broncos have lost assistant general manager Darren Mougey to the New York Jets and tight ends coach Declan Doyle to the Chicago Bears. More departures could be on the way.

Denver’s pass game coordinator, John Morton, is a “candidate to watch” for the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator position, according to a report from NFL Network (via Lions Wire).

Morton, 55, previously served as a senior offensive assistant with the Lions in 2022 before joining the Broncos in 2023, so he’s familiar with Detroit. Morton has already interviewed with Dan Campbell for the Lions’ OC position, according to NFLN.

Morton could be the third staff member to leave Denver in 2025, and he might not be the last. Three teams are interested in Broncos assistant special teams coach Chris Banjo, and clubs have also interviewed defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and executive David Shaw this offseason.

We will track all of Denver’s coaching staff developments on Broncos Wire.

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Broncos assistant coach leaves team for promotion with Bears

Broncos tight ends coach Declan Doyle has left the team to become the new offensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears.

The Chicago Bears are hiring former Denver Broncos tight ends coach Declan Doyle as their new offensive coordinator, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Doyle joined Sean Payton’s staff with the Broncos in 2023 after previously coaching as an offensive assistant with the New Orleans Saints from 2019-2022. Before that, he was a student offensive assistant at Iowa from 2016-2018.

Doyle is the second member of Denver’s staff to leave this offseason, and he might not be the last.

Broncos assistant general manager Darren Mougey previously left for the GM job with the New York Jets, and multiple coaches have drawn interest from clubs this offseason.

Three teams are interested in Broncos special teams coach Chris Banjo, two teams interviewed (but did not hire) defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, the Detroit Lions interviewed passing game coordinator Johnny Morton and the Bears previously showed interest in executive David Shaw before hiring Doyle.

We will track all of Denver’s coaching staff buzz on Broncos Wire.

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Cowboys might poach a coach from Sean Payton’s staff

The Cowboys are interviewing Broncos assistant coach Chris Banjo for their special teams coordinator position.

A Denver Broncos assistant coach is in high demand.

We already knew Broncos assistant special teams coach Chris Banjo was a candidate for the special teams coordinator openings with the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers. Now a third team has entered the mix.

The Dallas Cowboys are also interviewing Banjo for their ST opening, according to a report from ESPN’s Todd Archer.

Landing a coordinator position this offseason would be an impressive rise for Banjo. He played as a safety and special teams ace in the NFL from 2013-2022 before hanging up his cleats and transitioning to coaching.

Broncos coach Sean Payton hired Banjo as an assistant special teams coach in 2023 and after just two years on the job, Banjo is now a candidate for a big promotion.

Denver might consider Banjo for its own coordinator opening after firing Ben Kotwica, but Darren Rizzi is believed to be the Broncos’ preferred candidate to replace Kotwica.

Elsewhere on the coaching front, the Chicago Bears want to interview Denver executive David Shaw and tight ends coach Declan Doyle for their offensive coordinator position. We will track all of the team’s coaching staff developments on Broncos Wire.

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