Darren Rizzi enters his second season as assistant head coach/special teams coordinator for the Denver Broncos in 2026. He was hired by the club on February 14, 2025.
Rizzi, a 34-year coaching veteran with 18 years of NFL experience with Denver (2025), New Orleans (2019-24) and Miami (2009-18), joined the Broncos after spending the previous six seasons with the Saints. In New Orleans, he served as assistant head coach/special teams coordinator as well as interim head coach for the final eight games of the 2024 season.
In his first season with Denver in 2025, Rizzi helped lead a Broncos special teams unit that ranked in the Top-10 in punt return yards (1st—481), punt returns (T-2nd—34), punts inside the 20 (T-3rd—30), punt return average (4th—14.1) and punt return yards against (10th—308). Denver was also just 1-of-3 teams in 2025 to record at least one blocked punt, one blocked kick (FG or PAT) and return a punt for a touchdown.
Rizzi helped safety Devon Key to first-team All-Pro honors in 2025 after he led the league with 26 tackles on special teams, which also set a new franchise record. Rizzi also oversaw the development of punter Jeremy Crawshaw during his rookie season, who set a franchise record with a 47.6 punting average while punting 75 times for 3,575 yards with 30 punts inside the 20-yard line and only nine touchbacks.
With Rizzi on staff in 2025, the Broncos produced their 16th division title in team history and their first appearance in the AFC Championship game since the 2015 season.
As special teams coordinator with the Saints, Rizzi's units were ranked in the Top-10 by Rick Gosselin's annual special teams rankings four times (2019, '20-21, '23), including ranking first in 2019, second in 2023 and fifth in both 2020 and 2021.
Rizzi helped the Saints special teams unit rank third in punt return average against (7.1) and total return yards (6,388) while also placing fifth in punt return average (10.4) during his tenure. Additionally, his units ranked in the Top-10 in punt return average five times ('19-21, '23-24), including leading the NFL in 2020 (2.3 avg.) and 2023 (5.6 avg.).
With the Saints, Rizzi coached safety J.T. Gray (2021), return specialist Deonte Harty (2019), kicker Wil Lutz (2019) and return specialist Rashid Shaheed (2023) to Pro Bowl selections. Under his direction, he also led the way for Harty (2019), Gray (2019, '21, '24) and Shaheed (2023) to earn All-Pro honors as well.
Rizzi entered the NFL with Miami in 2009 as an assistant special teams coach before being named special teams coordinator in 2010. Under his guidance, the Dolphins ranked in the Top-10 in the Gosselin rankings five times (2011-13, '16, '18), including ranking second in 2011 as well as fourth in 2012 and 2018.
Under Rizzi, punter Brandon Fields was named second-team All-Pro in 2013 by the Associated Press after punting 85 times for 4,150 yards (48.8 avg. / 42.4 net) with 33 punts inside the 20-yard line and seven touchbacks. Additionally, two Dolphins were named to the Pro Bowl in Fields (2014) and long snapper John Denney (2011, '13).
Before breaking into the NFL, Rizzi served as head coach at the University of Rhode Island (2008) as well as special teams coordinator at Rutgers University (2002-07). He also oversaw the development of Rutgers' running backs from 2002-04 and the team's linebackers from 2005-07 while holding the title of assistant head coach (2004-06) and associate head coach (2007).
With the Scarlet Knights, Rizzi coached three first-team All-Big East players, including kick returner Nate Jones (2002), return specialist Willie Foster (2005) and punter Joe Radigan (2006). Jones was also named Big-East Co-Special Teams Player of the Year in 2002 while Foster earned Special Teams Player of the Year accolades from the conference in 2005.
Rizzi served in multiple facets at the University of New Haven before arriving at Rutgers, including head coach (1999-2001), defensive coordinator (1997) and special teams coordinator/defensive line coach (1994-96). As head coach, he guided the Chargers to a record of 15-14 over a three-year span.
Between his coaching stints at New Haven, he spent one season as special teams coordinator and linebackers coach at Northeastern University in 1998. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Colgate University in 1993.
Rizzi earned his degree in speech communications from the University of Rhode Island in 1992, where he played tight end for the Rams. During his career at Rhode Island, he tallied 160 receptions for 2,426 yards (15.2 avg.) with 15 touchdowns, earning All-American status in 1992.
He was signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Eagles prior to starting his coaching career.
A native of Hillsdale, N.J., Rizzi and his wife, Tracey, have two daughters, Mackenzie and Alexandra, and three sons, Christian, Casey and Cameron.
Special Teams Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach 2025-26
Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator 2022-24
Special Teams Coordinator 2019-21
Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator 2017-18
Special Teams Coordinator 2010-16
Assistant Special Teams 2009
University of Rhode Island
Special Teams Coordinator 2002-07
Defensive Coordinator 1997
Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Line 1994-96
Special Teams Coordinator/Linebackers 1998
