The Denver Broncos, as one of the NFL's top teams and holders of the No. 1 seed in the AFC, are naturally going to be a model organization for teams to pluck from with coaching vacancies. It's a credit to the great staff that head coach Sean Payton has built.
The most recent interview request comes from the New York Giants, who wish to interview Denver's special teams coordinator, Darren Rizzi, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
"Giants requested to interview Broncos assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi for their head coach vacancy," Schefter wrote in a post on X.
Giants request to interview Broncos special teams coach Darren Rizzi
Rizzi, a longtime Payton assistant with both the New Orleans Saints and Broncos, just wrapped his first season in Denver. He previously served as the special teams coordinator with the Saints and was the interim head coach after Dennis Allen was fired midseason in 2024.
The special teams coach's ties to the Giants run through general manager Joe Schoen, as the two spent time together with the Miami Dolphins organization, as pointed out by Giants analyst Bobby Skinner.
"Was waiting on this one. Worked with Joe Schoen from 2009-16 in Miami & he’s from New Jersey. Important qualifications," wrote Skinner.
Rizzi's jump from special teams to head coach would be a first in a long time in the NFL, but not unprecedented.
The Giants hired Joe Judge, the New England Patriots' special teams coordinator, after the 2019 season. It didn't work out with Judge, as he went 10-23 over two seasons and was quickly shown the door.
There are success cases, such as the Baltimore Ravens finding John Harbaugh via the Philadelphia Eagles. He coached for 18 years with the Ravens before being let go earlier this week.
Obviously, New York is going to interview a wide variety of candidates throughout their search for a new head coach, and checking in with coaches of the successful Broncos is a good place to start.
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