After a successful season from the unit, the Denver Broncos and head coach Sean Payton surprisingly fired special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica. Who could the Broncos be eyeing to replace him?
Denver Broncos fire special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica
When Broncos head coach Sean Payton said in his end of the year press conference that he would evaluate players and staff, nobody anticipated a change at special teams coordinator.
As first reported by NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport this morning, the Broncos and Payton moved on from coordinator Ben Kotwica, who came along with legendary veteran coach Mike Westhoff as a package deal when Payton took the Denver job in 2023.
Westhoff stepped away during the season to focus on his health, and Kotwica and special teams assistant Chris Banjo maintained the responsibilities for the unit.
The Broncos special teams unit finished in the Top 10 in several categories.
- 10th in Net Punting Average (42.2)
- 1st in Punt Return Average (15.7)
- 10th in Punt Return Average Against (8.7)
- 6th in Field Goal Percentage (91.2%)
Returner Marvin Mims was named to the Pro Bowl Games and as an All-Pro for his production in the return game.
The only real lapse the Broncos had this season cost them a win against the Kansas City Chiefs, where a heartbreaking field goal block decided the outcome. Chiefs’ players noted after the game that they had seen a tendency on film for several games and they attacked it.
Payton looking to Rizz up Broncos special teams?
Look no further than New Orleans Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi, the top named mentioned by Rapoport after the news came of Kotwica’s firing on Friday morning.
Rizzi first came to New Orleans as their special teams coordinator in 2019 when Payton was still there. He became the team’s assistant head coach and maintained his special teams coordinator role in 2022 after Payton departed.
The pair could reunite in Denver. Rizzi interviewed for the Saints vacancy at head coach and the New York Jets vacancy. He’s a coach who is highly revered by Saints players, one New Orleans source told me.
Special teams assistant coach Chris Banjo still maintains his role. He was interviewed recently by the San Francisco 49ers for their vacancy at coordinator.