Zach Azzanni is following Nathaniel Hackett to the New York Jets
The New York Jets‘ wide receivers coach position became vacant when Miles Austin was suspended one year for violating the NFL’s gambling policy.
On Monday, the Jets filled the vacancy by hiring former Broncos wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni. Broncos beat reporter Mike Klis of 9NEWS first reported the news.
Per source. Zach Azzanni has been hired by the New York Jets as WR coach, per source. Got some help from Jets' OC Nathaniel Hackett. Azzanni's 7th season as NFL WR coach. #9sports
— Mike Klis (@mikeklis) February 20, 2023
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Azzanni, 46, reunites with Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who served as the Broncos’ head coach in 2022. Azzanni also worked alongside Jets quarterbacks Rob Calabrese in Denver for two years, as Calabrese was the Broncos’ offensive quality control coach in 2019 and 2020.
Azzanni was the Broncos’ wide receivers coach over the past five seasons, holding the role from 2018 to 2022. He entered the NFL in 2017 as the Bears’ wide receivers coach. Prior to that, Azzanni had been coaching wide receivers in the college ranks since 1999.
Here is a look at Azzanni’s complete coaching resume:
- 2018-22: Denver Broncos – Wide receivers coach
- 2017: Chicago Bears – Wide receivers coach
- 2015-16: Tennessee – Passing game coordinator/Wide receivers coach
- 2013-14: Tennessee – Recruiting coordinator/Wide receivers coach
- 2012: Wisconsin – Wide receivers coach
- 2011: Western Kentucky – Offensive coordinator/Wide receivers coach
- 2010: Florida – Passing game coordinator/Wide receivers coach
- 2007-09: Central Michigan – Assistant head coach/Wide receivers coach
- 2003-06: Bowling Green – Wide receivers coach
- 2001-02: Bowling Green – Graduate assistant
- 1999-00: Valparaiso – Wide receivers coach
A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Azzanni played wide receiver at Central Michigan from 1994 to 1998 before immediately jumping into the coaching world once his collegiate career ended.
Over his five years with the Broncos, Azzanni survived the firing of two head coaches, which is surely a positive on his resume. He joined the team under Vance Joseph in 2018 and remained on the staff when Vic Fangio replaced Joseph in 2019. When Hackett replaced Fangio in 2022, Azzanni stuck around once more. He was the longest-tenured coach on the Broncos’ staff in 2022.
Here is how the Jets’ offensive coaching staff looks at the moment:
- Offensive coordinator: Nathaniel Hackett
- Passing game coordinator: Todd Downing
- Run game coordinator/Offensive line: Keith Carter
- Quarterbacks: Rob Calabrese
- Running backs: Taylor Embree
- Tight ends: Ron Middleton
- Assistant offensive line: Ben Wilkerson
- Offensive assistant: Pat Bastien
- Offensive assistant: Mack Brown
- Offensive assistant: Billy VandeMerkt
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