Dolphins Head Coach Rumors: ST Coordinator Darren Rizzi to Interview

The Miami Dolphins will reportedly interview special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi for their head coaching vacancy Friday, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

Garafolo added: "So don't expect a hire from them anytime soon. Other candidates they've interviewed are all still coaching in the playoffs anyway."

Those other candidates include Dallas Cowboys secondary coach Kris Richard, New England Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores, New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, per the Associated Press (h/t NBCDFW.com).

Rizzi, 48, was also an associate head coach in 2018. He's spent the past eight years as the Dolphins' special teams coordinator and the past 10 years in Miami. His resume also includes stops as the head coach at Rhode Island (2008), special teams coordinator at Rutgers (2002-07) and the head coach of New Haven (1999-01).

One factor in Rizzi's favor is a number of former and current Dolphins believe he'd be the right man for the job:

Whomever the Dolphins choose as their next head coach will be tasked with turning around a program that has become fairly stale and mediocre. The Dolphins have missed the postseason for two years running and have made just two playoffs appearances since 2002, losing both times in the Wild Card Round. 

The Dolphins last won the AFC East in 2008 after being left in the dust by Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots dynasty. The team's next head coach, then, will be tasked with ending the Patriots' chokehold on the division and returning the team to prominence.