New Orleans Saints staff member to interview for head coach job

New Orleans Saints special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi will interview for the team’s head coach position, per NFL reporter Mike Garafolo. The news comes a little less than a week after Sean Payton retired as the Saints coach.

Rizzi has spent the past three seasons in New Orleans after joining the team in 2019. Prior to that, he worked for the Miami Dolphins from 2010-18. He spent the final two seasons of his tenure with the Dolphins as an associate head coach.

The Saints finished this past season with a record of 9-8. It marked the first time the team has missed the postseason since 2016. With the departure of Payton, New Orleans finds itself in search of a new coach for the first time in 16 years. During his time in the Bayou, Payton compiled a 152-89 overall record and a Super Bowl in 2009.

Rizzi joins a list of proven candidates set to interview for the Saints head coach opening. That includes former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores and current New Orleans defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.

Although the Saints special teams coordinator has never been a head coach at the pro level, he isn’t without experience. He spent three seasons coaching New Haven University in Connecticut from 1999-2001 as well as one year as Rhode Island’s head coach in 2008. He compiled an 18-23 overall record during those four years.

After quarterback Drew Brees retired following the 2020 season, the Saints’ future seemed uncertain. The team named Jameis Winston as Brees’ replacement, though he would suffer a season-ending ACL injury in Week 8. With Winston an unrestricted free agent this offseason, it seems the franchise could be moving toward a rebuild.

The Saints have the 18th pick in the 2022 NFL draft, set to begin on April 28 in Las Vegas. The most recent mock draft from CBS Sports has them selecting Liberty quarterback Malik Willis in the first round.