By Matt Moscona
NEW ORLEANS — Count Saints placekicker Blake Grupe among the group of players, including Alvin Kamara, endorsing Darren Rizzi to become the team’s permanent head coach.
“I’d love for him to become the head coach,” Grupe said on my radio show at Super Bowl LIX Media Row. “Steering the ship to end the season this year, I think it would have been a lot different without having coach Rizz.
“Darren Rizzi’s awesome. Everything that (Kamara) believes and says in support for Darren Rizzi, I am in the same boat. He’s a leader. He’s going to fight for you so much, you’re going to want to fight for him even harder.”
Do Saints players want Darren Rizzi to be the next head coach?
We sat down with @blakegrupe and here’s what he had to say.
Also give him a follow on Twitter so he can keep up with @A_kamara6 !! #WhoDat pic.twitter.com/7EIzYTIrWy
— 104.5 ESPN (@1045espn) February 4, 2025
Rizzi replaced Dennis Allen following a 2-7 start to the season. He led the Saints to a 3-5 record despite battling a myriad of injuries to key players.
Grupe joined the Saints as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame prior to the 2023 season. He won the placekicking job over incumbent Wil Lutz and has been coached by Rizzi the past two seasons when he served as the team’s special teams coordinator.
Despite player support, it is unlikely that Rizzi earns the full-time opportunity. Adam Schefter reported Monday that Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is expected to become the new Saints coach after the Super Bowl.
