The **New Orleans Saints** have long been a franchise known for their resilience and success, especially under the leadership of legendary head coach **Sean Payton**, who led the team for 16 years. But as with any team, transitions are inevitable. With Payton’s departure in 2022 and the team now navigating its post-Payton era, the Saints have faced various challenges, especially on special teams, where **Darren Rizzi** has served as the coordinator. After a few up-and-down seasons with Rizzi at the helm of special teams, whispers have started to emerge that the Saints may be looking to make a change at the position in the near future.
As the 2024 season draws closer, many believe that the Saints are in an ideal position to bring in a new, rising star as their next special teams coordinator—a move that could reinvigorate the entire roster. One name in particular has recently been linked to the Saints’ special teams coordinator vacancy: **Matt Daniels**, the current special teams coordinator for the **Minnesota Vikings**.
The buzz surrounding Daniels as a head coaching candidate for special teams is palpable, and his coaching trajectory, along with the current makeup of the Saints roster, makes New Orleans the best potential landing spot for Daniels to step in and elevate a critical unit for the team. In this blog post, we’ll explore why the Saints are in prime position to hire Daniels and why he’s the right candidate to replace Darren Rizzi.
### Why the Saints Are Looking for a New Special Teams Coordinator
Before diving into the rising star that is Matt Daniels, it’s important to understand why the Saints would be looking to replace Darren Rizzi in the first place. Rizzi has been with the Saints since 2017, but despite overseeing some memorable plays and standout individual performances, the Saints’ special teams have been inconsistent in recent years.
In 2023, the team’s special teams performance was considered average at best. While some individual players—such as kicker **Wil Lutz**—have maintained a high level of play, there have been several critical errors and inconsistent performances on coverage and return teams. Special teams are crucial to any team’s success, often providing a game-changing momentum shift or an opportunity to set up good field position. In the case of the Saints, these areas have often been lacking, which has made some in the organization question whether a change at the top could make a difference.
With the team continuing to build around a veteran roster and looking to return to playoff contention, the Saints know that every facet of the game—especially special teams—must be firing on all cylinders. Thus, it’s clear that a shift in leadership could be in the cards, particularly if there’s an emerging star in the coaching ranks ready to take the next step.
### Enter Matt Daniels: The Emerging Star
Matt Daniels, currently in his second season as the special teams coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, has quickly garnered attention as one of the brightest young minds in the NFL. His rise through the coaching ranks has been both impressive and rapid, and his work with the Vikings has turned heads across the league.
Prior to his time with Minnesota, Daniels served as an assistant special teams coach with the **Dallas Cowboys** and the **Los Angeles Rams**, where he worked under veteran special teams coordinators like **John Fassel**. Daniels’ experience in both high-profile franchises provided him with the kind of mentorship and exposure to elite special teams play that few other young coaches have had access to.
In Minnesota, Daniels inherited a special teams unit that had faced some struggles, particularly with consistency and field position. In his first year as coordinator, Daniels made an immediate impact. Under his watch, the Vikings’ special teams drastically improved in several key areas, including kickoff coverage, punt returns, and field goal efficiency. The Vikings were particularly strong in 2023, ranking in the top 10 in several special teams categories, including kick return average and punt coverage. This success was in no small part due to Daniels’ innovative approach and his emphasis on fundamentals, technique, and building trust within his unit.
Daniels has demonstrated the ability to adjust to different team needs, optimize players’ strengths, and develop strong units that make a difference on the field. His coaching philosophy emphasizes preparation, discipline, and adaptability—qualities that resonate well with the Saints’ organizational culture.
### Why the Saints Are the Ideal Landing Spot for Daniels
The timing of this potential move makes perfect sense for both Daniels and the Saints. New Orleans is a team with a rich history of success but currently finds itself in a period of transition. Having already undergone significant changes at the quarterback position and with new leadership in the coaching staff, the Saints are in need of a fresh approach and revitalized leadership, especially on special teams.
**1. A Team in Need of Special Teams Stability:**
The Saints’ special teams have been one of the most inconsistent units over the past few seasons. While they’ve had moments of brilliance, they’ve also experienced costly mistakes—errors that have sometimes led to missed opportunities or losses. Matt Daniels would bring the stability, discipline, and innovation needed to fix these problems. His emphasis on maximizing the potential of every player on the roster, particularly in key areas like return teams and coverage, would provide immediate benefits to the Saints. Daniels’ reputation as a coach who gets the most out of his players would be invaluable for a team that is focused on winning now.
**2. Youth and Energy to Complement Veteran Leadership:**
With veteran players like **Derek Carr**, **Alvin Kamara**, and **Cam Jordan**, the Saints are firmly entrenched in a win-now mode. At the same time, they have a young and developing roster of talent in key areas, including wide receiver, offensive line, and defense. Matt Daniels represents a coach who could bring a youthful energy and fresh perspective to the team, perfectly balancing the seasoned leadership of head coach **Dennis Allen** and the established veteran players. Daniels’ ability to connect with players across the board would be essential for building the kind of cohesive, disciplined unit the Saints need to return to the playoffs.
**3. Coaching Experience Under Championship-Level Staffs:**
Another critical factor in Daniels’ favor is the coaching experience he gained under two of the NFL’s most successful special teams coordinators, **John Fassel** and **Rich Bisaccia**. Both of these coaches have made their marks with successful teams, and Daniels learned from their strategies and philosophies. His time with them has allowed him to develop a comprehensive understanding of the nuances of special teams play and how to build an elite unit. This experience has already proven valuable in Minnesota, and it would undoubtedly translate well to New Orleans.
**4. A Strong Locker Room Presence:**
The Saints have always valued leadership and cohesion within the locker room. Matt Daniels’ ability to lead his players, develop strong relationships with them, and foster a positive culture would make him an ideal fit for a team with a veteran-laden roster. His ability to connect with players and make each one feel important, while also holding them accountable, has been one of the hallmarks of his coaching career.
### How Daniels Would Elevate the Saints
In terms of tangible impact, Daniels would bring several immediate benefits to the Saints’ special teams unit:
– **Consistency:** The Saints need a coordinator who can bring reliability to their special teams, minimizing mistakes like missed tackles, blocked kicks, and costly penalties. Daniels has a track record of cleaning up these areas and ensuring his unit plays with discipline.
– **Return Game Efficiency:** Daniels has a knack for optimizing return game strategies. Whether it’s maximizing yardage on kickoffs or punt returns, he would bring an added dimension to the Saints’ field position game, which is an often-overlooked aspect of winning football.
– **Kicking Game Execution:** Daniels would work closely with Wil Lutz to make sure the kicking game operates at its highest level. With a consistent kicker and excellent special teams coverage, the Saints could see their special teams units turn field position into an asset.
### Conclusion
As the New Orleans Saints continue to rebuild and seek consistency across all phases of the game, **Matt Daniels** represents the ideal candidate to replace Darren Rizzi and lead the special teams unit into a new era. With his track record of success, youthful energy, and ability to connect with players, Daniels has the potential to elevate the Saints’ special teams from a weakness to a strength.
The Saints are poised to make a splash with the right hire, and Daniels is a candidate that fits the bill. It’s only a matter of time before the New Orleans Saints make the decision to bring in this emerging star head coach to oversee one of the most important but often overlooked aspects of the game.