The Denver Broncos have fired special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica after two seasons according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

Kotwica was among the first hires made by head coach Sean Payton once he took the Broncos’ head coaching position. The move added to Kotwica’s lengthy NFL coaching resume; he has served as a special teams coordinator with the Jets in addition to time in Washington and Atlanta in that capacity. Despite a lack of previous experience working with Payton, Kotwica took charge of the third phase units in Denver after one season as an assistant ST coach with the Vikings.

The 50-year-old oversaw a unit which included Marvin Mims earning first-team All-Pro acclaim as a punt returner this year. In the Broncos’ wild-card loss to the Bills this weekend, the team successfully converted a fourth-and-eight by means of a fake punt. Those individual successes were weighed against shortcomings like Denver’s Week 10 loss to Kansas City, during which a would-be game-winning field goal attempt was blocked.

Darren Rizzi was the special teams coach during Payton’s final three seasons with the Saints. Rizzi closed out the 2024 season as the interim head coach in New Orleans and has interviewed for the Jets’ head coaching job, but could wind up in Denver if he doesn’t land that job or the permanent gig with the Saints.