The Denver Broncos have decided to part ways with one coaching staff member less than one week after the season officially ended for them in Buffalo.
Special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica, who came over when Sean Payton was hired as the team’s head coach, is out. The team made the announcement official on Friday.
Kotwica did some good things for the team and his termination comes as somewhat of a surprise.
The Broncos led the NFL with a 15.7-yard average on punt returns and Marvin Mims Jr. was selected to the Pro Bowl for the second straight year as a result.
Riley Dixon was seventh in the NFL in landing punts inside the 20-yard line with 33 and Wil Lutz had another stellar season kicking the ball. But there was one special teams play that stood out for all the wrong reasons, and you probably don’t have to think too hard about which one it was.
Hearing the Broncos announcers of the field goal block is an instant classic! 😂 pic.twitter.com/afoOGwoBGB
— Brad Henson Productions (@BradHensonPro) November 10, 2024
Was that blocked field goal the reason Kotwica lost his job? Well, it’s entirely possible. Though Lutz made every single kick from that point until he doinked one off the upright against Buffalo, the block still stings.
Alex Forsyth got mowed over on the play and George Karlaftis blocked the kick. The Broncos replaced Forsyth with Matt Peart in field goal protection from that point, so Kotwica did what he could do to remedy the situation. But the Broncos have chosen to go in another direction.
Chris Banjo should get the Broncos’ special teams coordinator position
Chris Banjo worked underneath Kotwica as the team’s assistant special teams coordinator. He is being looked at by other teams for their spot. Banjo has already met with the San Francisco 49ers about their special teams opening, but the Broncos should work to keep him aboard.
Despite going undrafted in 2012, Banjo spent a decade in the NFL because he was a great special teams player. He also played for Sean Payton for three seasons in New Orleans.
The Broncos have things pointed in the right direction right now and the correct move should be to continue building on that and not rocking the boat too much. Broncos insider Mike Klis lists several names who could be candidates for the Broncos’ special teams job, but Banjo should be at the top of that list.
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