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The Denver Broncos fired special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica in a somewhat surprising move on Friday. Here’s a sampling of how fans and pundits reacted to the news on Twitter/X.
Payton hired Mike Westhoff as brains behind special teams, the guru, w/Ben Kotwica executing the plan, organizing practices, coaching up the players, etc. Westhoff/Kotwica a package deal. When Westhoff retired after Chiefs loss for health reasons, Kotwica apparently vulnerable.
— MikeKlis9NEWS (@mikeklis9news) January 17, 2025
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Ben Kotwica just executed a faked punt 19-yard completion that converted a 4-and-8 in a playoff game and was dismissed 4 days later.
The NFL can be a tough business.— MikeKlis9NEWS (@mikeklis9news) January 17, 2025
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Ben Kotwica is one heck of a Ball Coach and quite literally an American Hero. https://t.co/dV522zbEyj
— Mike Sanford (@Coach_Sanford2) January 17, 2025
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Weird move. I wonder if he did something because special teams wasn’t really an issue this year https://t.co/FEpZCVUnei
— 🄱🄾🄶🄶🄸🄽🅂 (@Mr_Boggins) January 17, 2025
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Broncos’ special team unit had a strong season this year under Coach Kotwica:
• 1st in Punt Return Average (15.7)
• 10th in Net Punting Average (42.2)
• 10th in Punt Return Average Against (8.7)* Marvin Mims was named an All-Pro as a returner
h/tip @CodyRoarkNFL https://t.co/yYPtyxFt1k
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) January 17, 2025
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The Broncos’ special teams was overall exceptional in Ben Kotwica’s two years with the Broncos.
This year, they finished top 10 in:
Net Punting average
Punt return average
Punt return average against
Field goal percentMarvin Mims also became a back-to-back All-Pro returner.
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) January 17, 2025
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Pretty surprised by this move considering how much the ST has improved these last two seasons!
That said, there were some glaring mistakes, particularly down the stretch https://t.co/MErzBWTYS5
— Zach Segars (@Zach_Segars) January 17, 2025
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Kotwica
pic.twitter.com/SXmVY7JS0a
— Karsen
(@Broncos4six) January 17, 2025
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Maybe I’m just becoming a curmudgeon but I think the firing of STC Ben Kotwica is justified
Among other issues:
– Blocked FG in KC and subsequent evidence that weakness was based on tape study, not a fluke
– Riley Dixon’s absolutely horrid games in LA and CIN
– Tremon Smith…
— Sayre Bedinger (@SayreBedinger) January 17, 2025
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Overall the Broncos Special Teams were really good this year including an All Pro returner in Mims. This feels like Sean Payton knows who he will land for the job or you don’t do it. https://t.co/MvJaqaMDFO
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) January 17, 2025
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Rizzi incoming. https://t.co/BHxV5aSOyC
— Mike Carmellini (@Mike_Carmellini) January 17, 2025
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After parting ways with Kotwica, the Broncos will now seek a replacement. One potential candidate could be ex-New Orleans Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi, who served as a special teams coordinator under Sean Payton with the Saints from 2019-2021.