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Bears ‘Heavily Pursuing’ Darren Rizzi For STs Coordinator
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Bears are “heavily pursuing” former Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi as their special teams coach under new HC Ben Johnson.

Schefter mentioned that Rizzi has interest from over a half-dozen teams but if he doesn’t land a head coaching job, then Chicago is his potential landing spot.

The Bears are expected to add former Saints HC Dennis Allen as their defensive coordinator, so Johnson’s staff could have some resemblance to the Saints’ former staff under Sean Payton.

Rizzi, 54, began his coaching career at Colgate back in 1993. He worked for a number of schools before being hired as Rhode Island’s head coach for the 2008 season.

Rizzi lasted just one year at Rhode Island and led the team to a record of 3-9 before he was replaced. The Dolphins hired Rizzi as their special teams coordinator in 2010.

After several years in Miami, Rizzi departed to become the Saints special teams coordinator in 2019. In 2024, he was promoted to assistant head coach before being named the interim head coach following the firing of Dennis Allen.

In 2024, Rizzi led the Saints to a record of 3-5 as interim head coach, finishing at the bottom of the NFC South.

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The Chicago Bears are reportedly “heavily pursuing” Darren Rizzi for their Special Teams Coordinator position. Rizzi, who most recently served as the Special Teams Coordinator for the New Orleans Saints, is highly respected in the league for his expertise in special teams.

The Bears are looking to revamp their special teams unit after a lackluster performance last season. Rizzi’s track record of success and innovative coaching style make him an attractive candidate for the position.

If the Bears are able to secure Rizzi as their Special Teams Coordinator, it could be a game-changer for the team’s special teams unit. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.

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January 20, 2025
Report: Bears “heavily pursuing” Darren Rizzi for special teams coordinator job
The Bears aren’t wasting any time in putting together a coaching staff after hiring Ben Johnson as head coach.

With Dennis Allen a favorite for the defensive coordinator job, the Saints also are heavily pursuing Darren Rizzi to be their special teams coach, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Rizzi replaced Allen as interim coach with the Saints this season.

Rizzi still is a candidate for two head coaching jobs, with the Jets and the Saints having interview him.

Rizzi, 54, is a longtime special teams coach who went 3-5 as the Saints’ interim head coach. He has 16 years of experience in the NFL, the past six in New Orleans.

Schefter reports that Rizzi has interest in “over a half-dozen teams” with Chicago as the potential landing spot.

The Chicago Bears are reportedly “heavily pursuing” former Miami Dolphins special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi for the same position on their coaching staff. Rizzi, who spent 10 seasons with the Dolphins before parting ways with the team earlier this year, is highly regarded for his work on special teams.

The Bears have been in need of a new special teams coordinator since Chris Tabor left to join the Cleveland Browns coaching staff. Rizzi’s experience and track record of success make him an attractive candidate for the position.

Rizzi is known for his innovative and aggressive approach to special teams, and his units have consistently ranked among the best in the league. His ability to develop and coach young players has also been praised, making him a valuable asset for any team.

It remains to be seen if Rizzi will ultimately accept the Bears’ offer, but the team’s strong interest in him signals their commitment to improving their special teams unit. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.

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2. Bears
3. Special teams coordinator
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January 20, 2025
New York Jets coaching carousel breakdown: Darren Rizzi

Jan 5, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; New Orleans Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi looks on against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

The New York Jets will have a new head coach for the 2025 season after the Robert Saleh regime failed to produce a winning record, let alone a playoff berth in four seasons.

Jets Wire will break down each candidate that receives an interview detailing their experience as well as the highs and lows of their coaching career. In the end, we’ll determine if the candidate is worth a shot or if the Jets should pass for someone better.

For the next spin on the coaching carousel, we take a look at New Orleans Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi:

A Relative Unknown

Rizzi has never been a head coach in the NFL and his only experience as a head coach was one season with the University of Rhode Island in 2008. His team wasn’t very good as the Rams finished 3-9 and a 1-7 conference record.

His NFL coaching experience centers primarily around special teams. He was Special Teams Coordinator under the late Tony Sparano with the Miami Dolphins in 2010. Rizzi stayed on as special teams coordinator under Sparano’s replacement, Joe Philbin, as well as Adam Gase.

Rizzi interviewed for the Dolphins head coaching job after the 2018 season but the job was ultimately given to Brian Flores. He joined Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints in 2019 after Flores elected not to retain Rizzi for his coaching staff.

After Sean Payton temporarily retired from coaching in 2022, the Saints replaced him with defensive coordinator, Dennis Allen. Rizzi was retained by Allen and was named Assistant Head Coach along with being the Saints special teams coordinator.

Allen was fired in November after the Saints started out the 2024 season 2-0 and then lost seven straight games. Rizzi was named the interim head coach for the final 8 games, where he was 3-5 and finished in last place in the NFC South.

Would Jets Wire Hire Him?

The Verdict: Not a Chance

Rizzi is a relative unknown with only eight games of NFL head coaching experience. While that technically makes Rizzi an experienced head coach, there is no way the Jets organization could ever sell Rizzi to their beaten down fan base as the savior of the franchise.

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This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: New York Jets coaching carousel breakdown: Darren Rizzi

The New York Jets coaching carousel has been in full swing this offseason, with the team making several changes to its coaching staff. One of the most notable additions to the staff is Darren Rizzi, who was hired as the special teams coordinator.

Rizzi comes to the Jets with a wealth of experience, having spent the past 10 seasons as the special teams coordinator for the Miami Dolphins. During his time with the Dolphins, Rizzi’s units consistently ranked among the best in the league, with his players earning numerous Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors.

In addition to his success on the field, Rizzi is also known for his ability to develop young talent and get the most out of his players. This was a key factor in the Jets’ decision to bring him on board, as the team looks to build a strong foundation for the future.

With Rizzi now leading the special teams unit, Jets fans can expect to see a well-coached, disciplined group that will make a significant impact on games. His attention to detail and ability to get the best out of his players should help the team improve in all phases of special teams play.

Overall, the addition of Darren Rizzi to the Jets coaching staff is a promising development for the team and its fans. His track record of success and ability to develop talent make him a valuable asset as the team looks to turn things around and become a contender in the AFC East.

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January 20, 2025
Darren Rizzi: ‘Powers to be’ will evaluate coaching future | Saints

The last seven weeks have been an audition for interim Darren Rizzi.

Interim coaches aren’t hired for the full-time gig very often, but since taking over for Dennis Allen nearly two months ago, Rizzi has had an extended stretch to show the New Orleans Saints he’s up for the job after this season.

But Sunday’s 25-10 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders marked the second straight game in which the Saints suffered a humiliating defeat. And the game also dropped him to under .500 (3-4) in his tenure.

Is he worried that his chances at keeping the job have dwindled?

“I really don’t look at it like that,” Rizzi said. “Maybe from an outside perspective, you guys look at it like that, and you’re right. I can’t concern myself with that right now. I have to coach this last week, take a step back and then evaluate the whole thing.

“The powers to be will evaluate the whole thing, and we will go from there. I can’t be overly concerned with that. I’m concerned about the guys in the locker room. That’s what I’m concerned about. I’m pissed off. I’m upset for them.”

In the aftermath of taking over for Allen, Rizzi had instituted changes throughout the Saints and they appeared to be working. New Orleans won three of its first four games under its new coach. But the Saints have cooled off, losing three straight. They were shutout in last week’s 34-0 loss to the Green Bay Packers and on Sunday, they lost to a team that entered the afternoon just 3-12.

Rizzi was previously considered for the Saints’ last coaching vacancy in 2022 when he interviewed for the job that ultimately went to Allen.

General manager Mickey Loomis said in a radio interview that the Saints wouldn’t gear up until the end of the season.

“Our execution just hasn’t been good enough,” Rizzi said Sunday. “It’s frustrating, and it’s hard for me to see the players. That’s the most frustrating thing for me. Those guys are obviously the ones I care about the most. That’s the most frustrating part, but we’ve got one left. We have to find a way to respond and be better.”

After spending over a decade with the Miami Dolphins as their special teams coordinator, Darren Rizzi made the move to the New Orleans Saints this past offseason. Now, as the Saints head into the final stretch of the regular season, Rizzi’s coaching future is up in the air.

In a recent interview, Rizzi expressed his confidence in his abilities as a coach but acknowledged that his future with the Saints will ultimately be decided by the “powers to be” within the organization. With head coach Sean Payton at the helm, Rizzi has had the opportunity to work with one of the most respected coaches in the league, and his impact on the special teams unit has been evident.

As the Saints continue their pursuit of a playoff spot, Rizzi’s coaching future will likely be a topic of discussion in the offseason. Whether he stays with the Saints or moves on to another opportunity, one thing is for certain – Darren Rizzi’s passion for coaching and dedication to his craft will continue to shine through. Stay tuned for updates on Rizzi’s coaching future with the Saints.

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Darren Rizzi, coaching future, New Orleans Saints, Powers to be, NFL, football, evaluation, head coach, assistant coach, coaching staff, success, career, potential

#Darren #Rizzi #Powers #evaluate #coaching #future #Saints

December 31, 2024

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