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Meet The 2024 New Orleans Saints Coaches (1 Viewer)
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Continuing with the Meet The 2024 Saints Coaches series from the Saints Official Website, www.neworleanssaints.com
Darren Rizzi was named special teams coordinator for the New Orleans Saints on February 11, 2019 and added the important role of assistant head coach in 2022 under Head Coach Dennis Allen. Rizzi brings 31 years of coaching experience, including a ten-season stint with the Miami Dolphins from 2009-18.
Rizzi's units have ranked in the top half of NFL writer Rick Gosselin's annual special teams rankings in 12 of the 13 years that he has served as a coordinator, including first in 2019, fifth in both 2020 and 2021 and second in 2023. Since he entered the NFL coaching ranks in 2009, seven special teams players have been named to eight Pro Bowls under his tutelage. Rizzi has also coached six players to the NFL All-Rookie team in the past ten years.
Over his Saints career, Rizzi's work on special teams have made the kicking game an integral part of New Orleans' success. On coverage units, J.T. Gray's 65 tackles rank second in the NFL. The punting game has produced the top three seasons in club history for punts inside-the-20-yard line. Since 2019, the Saints have excelled in the return game. Over the five-season period, the team has been ranked sixth in the NFL in punt return average (10.1), while coverage units have allowed the third-lowest punt return average (7.0). The special teams units have not given up a touchdown since 2019.
Last season, New Orleans finished in the Top 10 in the NFL in 13-of-22 special teams categories, leading or sharing the lead in five of them and finishing second in two others. New Orleans finished first in the league in opponent punt return average (5.6), while giving their defense the second-best starting point after kickoffs (24.2). Second-year WR/RS Rashid Shaheed was selected as a Pro Bowl starter as a return specialist and as an Associated Press first-team All-Pro punt returner, ranking third in the NFL in punt return average (13.6) with a 76-yard touchdown, the third-longest return in franchise history.
Youth was served, as a total of nine rookies or first-year players contributed to the Saints special teams, including K Blake Grupe, P Lou Hedley and LB Nephi Sewell. Grupe set the club rookie record with 30 field goals, led the team with 130 points and ranked third in the NFL with 76 touchbacks. Hedley's 31 punts inside-the-20-yard line ranked second in club record books. Sewell recorded five coverage stops and forced a fumble by the punter in Week 14 that was recovered for a touchdown.
Rizzi played tight end at Rhode Island, where he first walked on in 1988. He went on to tally 160 receptions for 2,426 yards (15.2 avg.) and 15 touchdowns in his collegiate career and was a consensus All-American in 1992. He was signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Eagles prior to beginning his coaching career.
A native of Hillsdale, N.J. and graduate of Bergen Catholic High School, Rizzi earned a degree in speech communications from URI in 1992. In 2013, he was inducted into the Bergen Catholic Hall of Fame. A two-sport high school star, he concluded his prep football career with 69 receptions, a school record which stood for 22 years, also excelling as an All-League outfielder for the baseball team.
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Meet the 2024 New Orleans Saints coaches: Darren Rizzi
Rizzi is entering his sixth season with the Saints
Darren Rizzi was named special teams coordinator for the New Orleans Saints on February 11, 2019 and added the important role of assistant head coach in 2022 under Head Coach Dennis Allen. Rizzi brings 31 years of coaching experience, including a ten-season stint with the Miami Dolphins from 2009-18.
Darren Rizzi
SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR- College: University of Rhode Island
- Hometown: Hillsdale, NJ
Rizzi's units have ranked in the top half of NFL writer Rick Gosselin's annual special teams rankings in 12 of the 13 years that he has served as a coordinator, including first in 2019, fifth in both 2020 and 2021 and second in 2023. Since he entered the NFL coaching ranks in 2009, seven special teams players have been named to eight Pro Bowls under his tutelage. Rizzi has also coached six players to the NFL All-Rookie team in the past ten years.
Over his Saints career, Rizzi's work on special teams have made the kicking game an integral part of New Orleans' success. On coverage units, J.T. Gray's 65 tackles rank second in the NFL. The punting game has produced the top three seasons in club history for punts inside-the-20-yard line. Since 2019, the Saints have excelled in the return game. Over the five-season period, the team has been ranked sixth in the NFL in punt return average (10.1), while coverage units have allowed the third-lowest punt return average (7.0). The special teams units have not given up a touchdown since 2019.
Last season, New Orleans finished in the Top 10 in the NFL in 13-of-22 special teams categories, leading or sharing the lead in five of them and finishing second in two others. New Orleans finished first in the league in opponent punt return average (5.6), while giving their defense the second-best starting point after kickoffs (24.2). Second-year WR/RS Rashid Shaheed was selected as a Pro Bowl starter as a return specialist and as an Associated Press first-team All-Pro punt returner, ranking third in the NFL in punt return average (13.6) with a 76-yard touchdown, the third-longest return in franchise history.
Youth was served, as a total of nine rookies or first-year players contributed to the Saints special teams, including K Blake Grupe, P Lou Hedley and LB Nephi Sewell. Grupe set the club rookie record with 30 field goals, led the team with 130 points and ranked third in the NFL with 76 touchbacks. Hedley's 31 punts inside-the-20-yard line ranked second in club record books. Sewell recorded five coverage stops and forced a fumble by the punter in Week 14 that was recovered for a touchdown.
Rizzi played tight end at Rhode Island, where he first walked on in 1988. He went on to tally 160 receptions for 2,426 yards (15.2 avg.) and 15 touchdowns in his collegiate career and was a consensus All-American in 1992. He was signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Eagles prior to beginning his coaching career.
A native of Hillsdale, N.J. and graduate of Bergen Catholic High School, Rizzi earned a degree in speech communications from URI in 1992. In 2013, he was inducted into the Bergen Catholic Hall of Fame. A two-sport high school star, he concluded his prep football career with 69 receptions, a school record which stood for 22 years, also excelling as an All-League outfielder for the baseball team.
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Continuing with the Meet The 2024 Saints Coaches series from the Saints Official Website, www.neworleanssaints.com
Phil Galiano enters his sixth season with the New Orleans Saints as assistant special teams coach. Galiano is a veteran in the coaching ranks with 24 years of experience, including eight seasons in the NFL.
Galiano's work with Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Darren Rizzi has made the kicking game an integral part of New Orleans' success. On coverage units, J.T. Gray's 65 tackles rank second in the NFL. The punting game has produced the top three seasons in club history for punts inside-the-20-yard line. Since 2019, the Saints have excelled in the return game. Over the five-season period, the team has been ranked sixth in the NFL in punt return average (10.1), while the coverage units have allowed the third-lowest punt return average (7.0). The special teams units have not given up a touchdown since 2019.
Last season, the Saints boasted one of the NFL's top special teams units, with the unit finishing second in NFL Writer Rick Gosselin's annual rankings. New Orleans finished in the Top 10 in the NFL in 13-of-22 categories, either leading or sharing the lead in five of them and finishing second in two others.
New Orleans finished first in the league in opponent punt return average (5.6), while giving their defense the second-best starting point after kickoffs (24.2). Second-year WR/RS Rashid Shaheed was selected as a Pro Bowl starter as a return specialist and as an Associated Press first-team All-Pro punt returner, ranking third in the NFL in punt return average (13.6) with a 76-yard touchdown, the third-longest return in franchise history.
The Saints saw key contributions from their youth, as a total of nine rookies or first-year players contributed to the special teams units, including K Blake Grupe, P Lou Hedley and LB Nephi Sewell. Grupe set the club rookie record with 30 field goals, led the team with 130 points and ranked third in the NFL with 76 touchbacks. Hedley's 31 punts inside-the-20-yard line ranked second in club record books. Sewell recorded five coverage stops and forced a fumble by the punter in Week 14 that was recovered for a touchdown.
In a sign of respect for his methods, Galiano was selected by the Senior Bowl to serve as special teams coordinator for the National Team.
A three-year starter at safety for Shippensburg, Galiano served as a tri-captain during his senior campaign. He helped lead the Raiders to consecutive winning seasons (1997-99). The Norristown, Pennsylvania native graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration.
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Meet the 2024 New Orleans Saints coaches: Phil Galiano
Galiano is entering his sixth season with the Saints
Phil Galiano enters his sixth season with the New Orleans Saints as assistant special teams coach. Galiano is a veteran in the coaching ranks with 24 years of experience, including eight seasons in the NFL.
Phil Galiano
ASSISTANT SPECIAL TEAMSGaliano's work with Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Darren Rizzi has made the kicking game an integral part of New Orleans' success. On coverage units, J.T. Gray's 65 tackles rank second in the NFL. The punting game has produced the top three seasons in club history for punts inside-the-20-yard line. Since 2019, the Saints have excelled in the return game. Over the five-season period, the team has been ranked sixth in the NFL in punt return average (10.1), while the coverage units have allowed the third-lowest punt return average (7.0). The special teams units have not given up a touchdown since 2019.
Last season, the Saints boasted one of the NFL's top special teams units, with the unit finishing second in NFL Writer Rick Gosselin's annual rankings. New Orleans finished in the Top 10 in the NFL in 13-of-22 categories, either leading or sharing the lead in five of them and finishing second in two others.
New Orleans finished first in the league in opponent punt return average (5.6), while giving their defense the second-best starting point after kickoffs (24.2). Second-year WR/RS Rashid Shaheed was selected as a Pro Bowl starter as a return specialist and as an Associated Press first-team All-Pro punt returner, ranking third in the NFL in punt return average (13.6) with a 76-yard touchdown, the third-longest return in franchise history.
The Saints saw key contributions from their youth, as a total of nine rookies or first-year players contributed to the special teams units, including K Blake Grupe, P Lou Hedley and LB Nephi Sewell. Grupe set the club rookie record with 30 field goals, led the team with 130 points and ranked third in the NFL with 76 touchbacks. Hedley's 31 punts inside-the-20-yard line ranked second in club record books. Sewell recorded five coverage stops and forced a fumble by the punter in Week 14 that was recovered for a touchdown.
In a sign of respect for his methods, Galiano was selected by the Senior Bowl to serve as special teams coordinator for the National Team.
A three-year starter at safety for Shippensburg, Galiano served as a tri-captain during his senior campaign. He helped lead the Raiders to consecutive winning seasons (1997-99). The Norristown, Pennsylvania native graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration.
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