The Denver Broncos are losing yet another assistant coach during the offseason cycle to a promotion. After moving on from special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica, the Broncos are also losing their assistant special teams coordinator with the departure of Chris Banjo. What does this mean for the Broncos special teams unit going into 2025?
Denver Broncos lose Chris Banjo to New York Jets
The Denver Broncos have lost their third assistant coach to a promotion this offseason after the New York Jets swooped in and signed former assistant Chris Banjo to be the next special teams coordinator for newly appointed head coach Aaron Glenn.
This creates an immediate vacancy for the Broncos to fill as Sean Payton will have to analyze his staff as the offseason progresses. Banjo’s departure was first reported by NFL Network Insider Tom Peliserro, and this move was always anticipated after Glenn became the Jet’s head coach.
Banjo played for Glenn when he was a member of the New Orleans Saints with Payton.
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With his promotion from being an assistant coach to becoming a coordinator, the Broncos qualify for the NFL’s compensatory formula and could be rewarded draft picks for the Jets’ hiring of Banjo.
Now the door is open for the Broncos and for Payton to strongly pursue former Saint’s interim head coach, special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi, who has been the anticipated name to watch for. The only obstacle with Rizzi and Denver is contingent upon whether or not the Saints hire him as their next head coach, which has been what a large portion of Saints’ veterans have been publicly rooting for.
If he does not get the Saints’ head coaching job, there’s a strong chance he will end up in Denver and reunite with Payton to help keep the Broncos’ special teams unit strong.
