![\"Chris](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/denver-broncos-v-arizona-cardinals-glendale-arizona-august-11-coaches-chris-e1784763033998.jpg\")
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Former Denver Broncos coach Chris Banjo reacting ahead of an NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals.<\/p>\n
A future NFL<\/a> head coach in the making?<\/p>\n Denver Broncos<\/a> head coach Sean Payton emphatically told Zack Rosenblatt<\/a> of The Athletic that he predicts that New York Jets<\/a> special teams coordinator Chris Banjo<\/a> \u201cis going to be a head coach.\u201d<\/p>\n Banjo, 36, has only been an NFL coordinator for one season. He didn\u2019t even start coaching until 2023. Despite his short time in the pros as a coach, Banjo has already made a strong impression.<\/p>\n Banjo Earns Even More Praise<\/p>\n Jourdan Rodrigue<\/a> of The Athletic put together an article highlighting the top assistant coaches who could break out in 2026.<\/p>\n Banjo was the Jets\u2019 representative on the list.<\/p>\n \u201cZack Rosenblatt, who attested to Banjo\u2019s ability entering the young coordinator\u2019s second season on the job. \u2018In one year,\u2019 added Rosenblatt, \u2018Banjo pulled off the difficult feat of being the only Jets coach with a universal approval rating from players and fans.\u2019 By the way, the Jets had the No. 1 special teams EPA in the 2025 regular season, per TruMedia,\u201d Rodrigue wrote.<\/p>\n A Quick Transition<\/p>\n Banjo started his football journey as a player. He entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2012.<\/p>\n During his 10 years in the NFL, he played for four different teams. He started his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars<\/a> in 2013 but only spent three months there. Banjo spent four years with the Green Bay Packers<\/a>. Next, he spent three years with the New Orleans Saints<\/a>. Finally, he spent the final four years of his career with the Arizona Cardinals<\/a>.<\/p>\n Banjo appeared in<\/a> 131 games and made seven starts. For the majority of his career, he cut his teeth as a special teams player (2,474 snaps). However, he did have moments where he got snaps on the defensive side of the ball (948 snaps).<\/p>\n In February of 2023, Banjo announced his retirement from playing. The same month that he retired, it was announced that he was hired by the Broncos to make his immediate transition to the coaching ranks.<\/p>\n Can Lightning Strike in the Same Place Twice?<\/p>\n Banjo had an outstanding year. It was enough to keep his job. Head coach Aaron Glenn changed out two of his three coordinators.<\/p>\n It was a surprising year for Banjo. He received sterling recommendations from Payton and Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Westhoff to get the Jets\u2019 job in the first place.<\/p>\n Now he has to deliver an encore. The majority of his special teams unit that broke records last season is set to return. With the lone exception being one of the most critical pieces to the puzzle, in placekicker Nick Folk<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Jets have already been on an uncomfortable game of musical chairs this offseason, with multiple kickers being shuffled in and out. If there is a silver lining to this story, it\u2019s how Folk returned to the Jets this past offseason.<\/p>\n They didn\u2019t even add him to the roster until days into training camp. Perhaps the Jets don\u2019t even have their starting kicker on the roster right now. Time is of the essence with training camp days away.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tPaul Esden Jr.<\/a> covers the New York Jets for Heavy.com. A New York native, he co-hosts a morning show, “The Manchild Show with Boy Green Digital.” Before joining Heavy in 2021, Esden Jr. covered both national and New York sports for FanSided, Elite Sports NY, and The Score 1260. More about Paul Esden Jr.<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Getty Former Denver Broncos coach Chris Banjo reacting ahead of an NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals. 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