Alvin Kamara Appears to Endorse Darren Rizzi as Next Saints HC amid McCarthy Rumors

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara seemingly threw his support behind Darren Rizzi to be named the team's next head coach this week.

In a post Tuesday on X, Kamara said his pick for the Saints' head coach "rhyme wit Fizzi."

Rizzi, who was the Saints' special teams coordinator since 2019 and assistant head coach since 2022, was named New Orleans' interim head coach after the firing of Dennis Allen in November.

In eight games as the interim head coach, Rizzi posted a 3-5 record, which was an improvement over the Saints' 2-7 start.

The Saints have been linked to several other candidates as well, including former Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, who New Orleans has been working to bring in for an in-person interview this week, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.

Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Saints are also scheduled to have in-person interviews with Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, although they had to postpone them until later in the week due to severe winter weather in New Orleans.

Rizzi, 54, has never served as a full-time head coach in the NFL, but he does have some experience in that role collegiately.

From 1999 to 2001, he led Division II New Haven to a 15-14 record, and he went 3-9 as the head coach at FCS Rhode Island in 2008.

Rizzi was the special teams coordinator at Rutgers from 2002 to 2007, and after his one-year stint as the head coach at Rhode Island, he made the move to the NFL.

He was part of the Dolphins' staff from 2009 through 2018, acting as the assistant special teams coach, followed by special teams coordinator and associate head coach.

Rizzi was hired as the Saints' special teams coordinator in 2019, and he remained in that role until becoming interim head coach this season, but he has also been the assistant head coach since 2022.

The Saints interviewed Rizzi for the head coaching position last week, but they also spoke to Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who was an offensive assistant with the Saints from 2017 to 2019 before serving as a passing game coordinator at LSU, offensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers and quarterbacks coach and OC in Buffalo.

New Orleans enjoyed some team success early in Rizzi's tenure with the organization, reaching the playoffs in 2019 and 2020, but they are now in the midst of a four-year postseason drought.

Their 5-12 record in 2024 was their worst mark since going 3-13 in 2005, so the Saints' next head coach has their work cut out for them.

Kamara will undoubtedly be a centerpiece of the offense for whoever takes over, but they will need the rest of the team's key offensive players to stay healthy in 2025.

Quarterback Derek Carr and wide receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed all missed significant time due to injury this season, which played a role in the team's collapse following a 2-0 start.