Darren Rizzi Under Fire with the Denver Broncos

In the NFL, special teams coordinators often operate in the shadows—until things go wrong. For Darren Rizzi, the Denver Broncos’ special teams chief since 2023, that shadow has lifted in 2024, as mounting inefficiencies and costly mistakes have put him at the center of fan and media criticism. Special teams, while less glamorous than offense or defense, can swing 3-5 games per season, and the Broncos’ struggles in this phase have directly contributed to their uneven 5-4 start. Darren Rizzi Under Fire with the Denver Broncos examines the root causes of the criticism, the specific failures that have fueled it, and whether the pressure on Rizzi is justified amid the team’s playoff aspirations.

Darren Rizzi Under Fire with the Denver Broncos first delves into the special teams unit’s statistical struggles—numbers that speak louder than fan frustration. Through the first nine weeks of 2024, the Broncos rank 27th in the NFL in overall special teams efficiency (per Football Outsiders), a sharp drop from their 12th-place finish in Rizzi’s first season (2023). The most glaring issue has been kickoff and punt coverage: opponents average 25.8 yards per kickoff return (29th in the league) and 11.2 yards per punt return (26th), with two of those returns going for touchdowns. In Week 6, a 98-yard punt return touchdown by the Las Vegas Raiders proved to be the deciding factor in a 24-21 Broncos loss. Field goal and extra point efficiency has also slipped: while kicker Wil Lutz has converted 82% of his field goals (down from 89% in 2023), the Broncos have missed three extra points—two due to snapped-hold miscues, a responsibility directly under Rizzi’s purview. “Special teams is about consistency, and we’re not getting that,” said a 匿名 Broncos assistant coach, speaking on condition of anonymity to NFL Network. These stats have turned Rizzi from a quiet asset into a target for frustration.

To understand the intensity of Darren Rizzi Under Fire with the Denver Broncos, it’s critical to highlight the high-stakes mistakes that have defined the unit’s struggles. The most damaging incident came in Week 8 against the Cincinnati Bengals, when the Broncos held a 20-17 lead with 1:12 left in regulation. Rizzi called for a fake punt on fourth-and-2 from the Broncos’ own 30-yard line—a risky decision given the game’s context. The snap went to upback P.J. Locke, who was tackled for a 3-yard loss, giving the Bengals prime field position. Cincinnati scored a field goal two plays later to force overtime, then won 23-20 on another field goal. The fake punt call was widely panned by analysts, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter calling it “a reckless gamble that cost the Broncos a critical win.” Another costly error occurred in Week 3: a botched kickoff return where returner Montrell Washington fumbled the ball (recovered by the Kansas City Chiefs), leading to a Chiefs touchdown three plays later. These moments aren’t just statistical blips—they’re game-changing mistakes that fans and media have directly tied to Rizzi’s leadership.

Darren Rizzi Under Fire with the Denver Broncos also explores the fan and media backlash that has amplified the pressure on Rizzi. Broncos fans have taken to social media with hashtags like #FireRizzi, and local radio shows (such as 104.3 The Fan’s The Drive) have dedicated entire segments to criticizing his playcalling and player management. Denver Post columnist Mark Kiszla wrote in a recent piece: “Rizzi was hired to fix special teams, but he’s turned a middling unit into a liability. The Broncos can’t win the AFC West if their special teams keep handing opponents points.” National outlets have joined in too: Pro Football Talk labeled the Bengals fake punt call “one of the worst special teams decisions of the season.” For the Denver Broncos, this public outcry creates a challenging dynamic—organizationally, they want to back their coaches, but they also can’t ignore the frustration of a fanbase hungry for playoff success. Team president Damani Leech addressed the criticism indirectly last week, saying, “We expect all units to perform at a high level, and we’re working with every coordinator to fix areas of weakness.”

Darren Rizzi Under Fire with the Denver Broncos further looks at Rizzi’s track record to provide context on whether the criticism is fair. Before joining the Broncos, Rizzi had a reputation as one of the NFL’s top special teams coordinators. He spent 2019-2022 with the New Orleans Saints, where his units ranked in the top 10 in efficiency three times, and he helped develop All-Pro returner Alvin Kamara. In 2023, his first season in Denver, he improved the Broncos’ special teams from 22nd to 12th in efficiency, fixing longstanding issues with punt coverage. Rizzi’s supporters argue that 2024’s struggles are due to roster turnover—key special teams contributors like linebacker Alex Singleton (now with the Houston Texans) and long snapper Jacob Bobenmoyer (injured in Week 2) have been lost, and replacements haven’t yet gelled. “Darren is a proven coach,” said a Broncos special teams player, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We’ve had injuries and new guys learning the system—this isn’t all on him.” For the Denver Broncos, weighing Rizzi’s past success against current struggles is key: firing a coordinator midseason is disruptive, but so is letting a unit continue to cost games.

The final aspect of Darren Rizzi Under Fire with the Denver Broncos is the team’s path forward—and whether Rizzi will keep his job. The Broncos’ next three games are against divisional rivals (Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles Chargers), matchups where special teams could be the difference between winning and losing. Head coach Sean Payton, who has final say on coaching staff decisions, has defended Rizzi publicly but acknowledged the need for improvement. “Darren is working his tail off to fix these issues,” Payton said in a Week 9 press conference. “We’re seeing progress in practice—now we need to translate that to games.” Behind the scenes, however, sources say the Broncos are monitoring the situation closely: if special teams continue to struggle in the next two weeks, a change could be made. For Rizzi, the pressure is clear—he needs to fix the coverage units, eliminate costly mistakes, and rebuild trust with fans and the organization. For the Denver Broncos, the stakes are even higher: a playoff run depends on all three units performing, and right now, special teams (under Rizzi’s leadership) is holding them back. Whether Rizzi can turn things around or becomes a midseason casualty will shape the Broncos’ 2024 campaign—and his own NFL future.