Tag: special teams

Darren Rizzi’s kickoff rules changes paid big dividends in 2024

Darren Rizzi pushed to change the kickoff rules in 2024, and the NFL was pleased with results. It resulted in longer kickoff returns, more touchdowns and fewer injuries:

Darren Rizzi is currently in the running for the New Orleans Saints head coaching vacancy, but he will be a sought after special teams coordinator if he isn’t selected. Ben Johnson wasted no time calling Rizzi after becoming the Chicago Bears head coach, but he’s expected to reunite with Sean Payton on the Denver Broncos staff if the Saints don’t hire him as their own head coach.

The success and return of the kickoff is a great display of why other teams will be calling his phone, as well. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the NFL is pleased with the improvements made to the play in 2024 due to the change of procedure.

It was Rizzi who pushed the procedure through. Instead of the kicking team being allowed to start running with the kicker, they now stand at the 40 yard line and wait for the ball to be kicked before they can run. The result was more kickoff returns, longer returns on average and an increase in touchdowns. Touchbacks were moved up to the 30 yard line rather than the 25. Most importantly, there have been fewer injuries on kickoffs.

It’s interesting to see how Rizzi had the Saints approach this compared to their peers around the league. While they faced the second-most kick returns (57), they allowed the sixth-fewest yards gained per return (26.0). No defense in the NFL started with better average field position than the Saints, too (their own 27.2 yard line). Rizzi bet on his coverage unit stopping the returner short of the touchback marker, and he often won that gamble.

Rizzi’s proactiveness in getting this rule passed reflects well on his special teams acumen and is a reason teams will flock towards him if he hits the market.

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Report: Saints’ interim coach already has his next job lined up

Darren Rizzi is going to wait and see how the Saints head coach search plays out, but he may already have his next job lined up. You’ll never guess where:

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.

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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 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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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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Report: Chicago Bears not expected to hire former Saints interim coach

After speculation that the Chicago Bears may target Darren Rizzi as a special teams coordinator, this reports says that’s no longer the plan:

After the hiring of Ben Johnson to be head coach of the Chicago Bears, there was speculation going around that New Orleans Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi was the target of interest to join Johnson’s new staff. However, that development has stalled out, as Rizzi works to make his case for the Saints head coaching job as we speak.

Rizzi is competing with some strong candidates for the Saints job, including Mike McCarthy, Joe Brady, Kellen Moore, Anthony Weaver, Mike Kafka, and maybe Kliff Kingsbury. While he does have the upper hand of being in the Saints system for years now and having the interim head coach experience, it also has to be factored in that his head coaching stint was not particularly fantastic. The team went 3-5 with Rizzi after their 2-7 start to the season.

He is also not the only coach among the list with ties to the Saints, so it is going to be an intriguing hire one way or another based on who they decide on. With that said, Rizzi is pushing all his chips into the center of the table on the head coaching gig, as it is hard to pass up a spot with Ben Johnson and crew.

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Why the Saints should lean on this underrated DB more often in 2025

The Saints have developed good defensive backs for awhile now, and they may have one more ready to flourish right now: Rico Payton.

The New Orleans Saints in recent years have been exceptional at evaluating and bringing in defensive back talent. Draftees like Marshon Lattimore, Alontae Taylor, Paulson Adebo, Kool-Aid McKinstry, and even back to Kenny Vaccaro and Malcolm Jenkins among many others have cultivated their defensive backs room for a significant amount of time now.

Additionally, they have been outstanding at finding quality talents among the undrafted free agent pool, such as Rashid Shaheed, Deonte Harty, Malcolm Roach, Carl Granderson, Justin Hardee, Wil Lutz, Pierre Thomas, Garrett Hartley, and more.

This mix is something that bodes well for lots of players who come through the Saints system, but one player in particular from the 2024 NFL draft class fits the bill exceptionally well, and went under the radar as a quality performer for them throughout the season. That player is cornerback and special teamer Rico Payton.

After being signed as an undrafted free agent last offseason out of Pittsburg State (without an H, and out of Kansas, not Pennsylvania), Payton garnered attention throughout the summer as a player to potentially watch for when the preseason arrived. However not much could have prepared fans for how truly strong his performance would be, as in three preseason games he was no doubt one of the best players on the field.

In those three games, Payton took 107 total snaps, being targeted 13 times in coverage and only allowing 3 passes to be completed (23.1% completion rate). Additionally, he had 4 pass breakups, 5 tackles, plus a sack on Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis in the third game which took approximately 2.33 seconds from snap to contact. Now that’s moving.

Once the preseason concluded, Payton ended up making the roster outright, and he appeared in 16 games for the Saints — taking 245 special teams snaps (57%) and 21 defensive snaps. On defense he was targeted twice and did not allow a catch, so that part was self explanatory. When it came to special teams he was an ace there as well, having the third-most special teams tackles on the team (9), which was tied for the 31st around the league.

He and J.T. Gray were absolutely electric to watch on punt coverage all season, as both would be down the field in a flash to stop the returner from advancing whatsoever, and giving the Saints whatever momentum they could. Their efforts went a long way in the punting game — the Saints faced the 13th-most punt returns in the NFL (28), but they allowed the 8th-fewest yards per return (7.6). No defense enjoyed a better average starting field position than New Orleans (their own 27.2 yard line).

Overall, Payton’s explosiveness, willingness and dedication to learn special teams while being extremely effective at it, and the potential he showed in preseason as a true outside corner are why he could be someone to truly watch out for in 2025. Given an opportunity to play at cornerback and get some true reps there at the NFL level, he could be the next in line of high-end Saints defensive backs.

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Jets HC Aaron Glenn wants to poach a coach from Broncos

Aaron Glenn, the new head coach of the Jets, wants to hire Broncos assistant Chris Banjo as New York’s special teams coordinator.

The New York Jets are hiring former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn as their new head coach, according to Jets Wire. This news could have multiple implications for the Denver Broncos.

The first and perhaps most notable implication is that Denver defensive coordinator Vance Joseph did not get the New York job. Joseph had interviewed for the Jets’ head coach opening earlier this month. Joseph seemingly still remains a HC candidate for the Las Vegas Raiders.

The fallout might not stop with Joseph. Glenn wants to hire Broncos assistant special teams coach Chris Banjo as New York’s new special teams coordinator, according to a report from Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports. Glenn served as a defensive backs coach with the New Orleans Saints from 2016-2020, overlapping with Banjo’s stint as a safety in New Orleans (2016-2018).

The Jets have not yet officially requested permission from Denver to interview Banjo, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis, but they likely will soon. The Broncos have already allowed Banjo to interview with the San Francisco 49ers and they are unlikely to block a New York interview.

Denver, of course, could consider Banjo for its own special teams coach opening after firing Ben Kotwica last week. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport has reported that the Broncos viewed Darren Rizzi as their top replacement target when they fired Kotwica, but there will be competition for Rizzi. Stay tuned.

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Saints announce they’ve completed head coach interview with Darren Rizzi

The New Orleans Saints announce they’ve completed an interview with interim head coach Darren Rizzi. He has a real shot at the full-time job:

The New Orleans Saints announced Friday evening that they have completed a head coach interview with Darren Rizzi. Rizzi has now finished each of his two reported interviews, with the other being the New York Jets. After creating a bit of a culture change midway through the Saints season, Rizzi has now earned some serious consideration around the league.

Rizzi’s role with the Saints stemmed from a respect that he gained as the team’s special teams coordinator. Rizzi has led countless seasons in which the team has ranked atop the league in special teams efficiency, as well as developing multiple Pro Bowl and All-Pro players on that side of the football.

His reputation though, went even further than that taking on a position that seemed like a void when Sean Payton exited. Rizzi quickly became the team’s fiery voice in the locker room, that the players immediately gravitated towards. This combination helped his candidacy in a major way leading him to become the team’s interim head coach after Dennis Allen’s departure.

After immediately bringing much needed change to the team even in their shortcomings, Rizzi has made his presence known as a leader of men in this league. The respect and admiration that his players have for him, is something that will be seriously considered when making a decision at head coach. When it’s all said and done, it’s safe to say that Rizzi will most certainly be in the final discussions as Saints head coach.

Regardless of the competition, Rizzi will have influence and buy-in from the players that will justify his case and could ultimately take him a long way in this process.

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Broncos coaching staff buzz: Ex-DC lands job in Europe, ST candidate interviews with Saints

Former Broncos DC Jack Del Rio landed a HC job in Europe. Meanwhile, presumed ST candidate Darren Rizzi interviewed for the Saints’ HC job.

As the NFL’s coaching carousel continues to spin, the Denver Broncos are making headlines.

The Broncos fired special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica on Friday and the team will now need to find a replacement. More on that in a moment, but first, two updates on other coaches.

Jack Del Rio, who served as Denver’s defensive coordinator from 2012-2014, has been hired as the new head coach of the Paris Musketeers in the European League of Football. Del Rio will now resume his coaching career in Europe after serving as an advisor for the Wisconsin Badgers in 2024.

Meanwhile, New Orleans Saints interim head coach and special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi interviewed for the Saints’ full-time head coach job on Friday. Rizzi, who coached under Sean Payton in New Orleans, is presumably a candidate to replace Kotwica in Denver.

One potential in-house candidate to replace Kotwica could be special teams assistant coach Chris Banjo. In addition to Rizzi and Banjo, seven other names to watch are Chris Tabor, John Fassel, Joe DeCamillis, Derius Swinton II, Jeff Modkins, Heath Farwell and Richard Hightowe, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

The NFL’s Rooney Rule states that the Broncos must interview at least one minority candidate for their open coordinator position. Expect the team to start lining up interviews soon.

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