Saints name Darren Rizzi interim head coach

Darren Rizzi (YouTube)

According to Bryan Murphy of The Sporting News on Monday, the New Orleans Saints have named Darren Rizzi of Hillsdale, New Jersey their new interim head coach. The promotion comes after the Saints fired Dennis Allen on Sunday.

Rizzi was the Saints assistant head coach and special teams coordinator this season prior to the head coaching change. It has been a very disappointing season for New Orleans to date, as they are tied for last place in the NFC South at two wins and seven losses.

From 2009 to 2018, Rizzi worked in the Miami Dolphins organization. He was the Dolphins special teams coach in 2009, the Dolphins special teams coordinator from 2010 to 2016, and the Dolphins associate head coach and special teams coordinator from 2017 to 2018. After leaving the Dolphins, Rizzi immediately joined the Saints on February 1, 2019. He was the Saints special teams coordinator from 2019 to 2021, and the assistant head coach and special teams coordinator since the 2022 NFL season.

There was a genuine feeling in New Orleans prior to the season that the Saints could contend for a NFC South Division title. Things looked great offensively, as they scored 91 points after only two games. In the process, the Panthers spanked the Carolina Panthers 47-10 in week one, and clobbered the Dallas Cowboys 44-19 in week two. Since September 15, the Saints have lost seven straight games. On Sunday, New Orleans actually lost to a team that has only won one game all year, and lost to the Saints by 37 points in week one–the Carolina Panthers, who beat the Saints 23-22 on Sunday.

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