It’s officially Super Bowl week, and the New Orleans Saints still haven’t hired a coach; they’re the only team that still has a vacancy. A big reason why is that the presumed favorite is currently preparing for the Super Bowl. It’s been widely reported that the Saints will move forward with Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, but he can’t be hired until after the Super Bowl.
Despite all signs pointing to Moore for New Orleans, fellow candidate Darren Rizzi is still holding out hope that he could get the job. After years as the special teams coordinator for the Saints, he became the team’s interim head coach when Dennis Allen was fired. Despite a 3-5 record, Rizzi still emerged as a serious candidate for the official opening.
With the position seemingly going to Kellen Moore, Rizzi has been offered another quality position in the league. The Denver Broncos have reportedly made an offer for Rizzi to be their special teams coordinator. With the connection to Sean Payton, this is a move many people saw coming.
However, Rizzi hasn’t accepted the position just yet. Instead, he plans to wait for the official conclusion of the Saints’ coaching search before heading to Denver.
I’m told that Darren Rizzi will wait out the Saints’ process and Denver has not yet requested to interview him.
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) February 1, 2025
He would be the favorite for the Broncos, but for now, things are on hold until the Saints close their process.
Darren Rizzi to wait out Saints’ coaching search despite offer to be Broncos special teams coordinator
Many former Saints, coaches and players, have ended up in Denver since Payton joined the Broncos, so this seemed inevitable. Rizzi is making the right decision, though, to wait out the process. While a Moore hire seems all but official, NFL fans who have been around long enough know that nothing in this league is guaranteed.
If things collapse in the final hour between the Saints and Kellen Moore, the team will likely turn to Darren Rizzi, giving him the opportunity to be an official head coach. If that doesn’t happen, and Moore is officially hired as expected, Rizzi will move on to Denver.