As expected, Aaron Glenn has elected to depart the Lions and take over as the Jets’ next head coach. A shortlist of candidates have emerged for the offensive and defensive coordinator positions, and a target is now known regarding special teams. 
Glenn and the Jets are interested in hiring Chris Banjo as special teams coordinator, Mike Klis of 9News reports. Banjo is currently an assistant with the Broncos, having taken a spot on Sean Payton‘s staff in 2023. Klis adds a New York interview request is expected, but also that Denver wants to keep Banjo in place.
The 34-year-old played 131 games in the NFL, including 39 under Payton with the Saints. Banjo retired after the 2022 campaign and immediately reached out to Payton to begin his coaching career. He was hired as an assistant on special teams, and he has drawn praise for his work since then. To that end, the 49ers recently interviewed Banjo for their own ST coordinator vacancy.
The Broncos saw assistant head coach Mike Westhoff retire midway through the season for medical reasons. The team then fired special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica after being eliminated in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Banjo is a logical candidate to replace Kotwica, although his relative lack of experience could lead Denver in another direction. If an outside hire were to be made, though, the possibility will exist of every member of Westhoff-Kotwica-Banjo trio needing to be replaced in the same offseason.
As Klis notes, Saints special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi remains a name to watch closely in this situation. Rizzi – who took over as the teams’ interim head coach to close out the campaign – is still in the running for the full-time New Orleans gig (something which is particularly true now that Glenn is off the market). Payton is reportedly trying to hire his former colleague, although other teams are also believed to be in the mix.
Rizzi’s future remains unclear at this point, but it will no doubt be tied to that of Banjo. The latter’s situation will be worth watching closely as Glenn puts his staff together and as the Broncos sort out their special teams setup on the sidelines.
Good luck, I don’t see him making it through three full years though.