
Larry Izzo
Special Teams Coordinator
College: Rice
Experience: 13 years
Biography
Hired on February 27, 2018, Larry Izzo begins his sixth season on the Seahawks staff, and third as special teams coordinator. Izzo spent seven seasons coaching with the N.Y. Giants (2011-15) and Houston (2016-17) following a 14-year playing career.
Hired on February 27, 2018, Larry Izzo begins his sixth season on the Seahawks staff, and third as special teams coordinator. Izzo spent seven seasons coaching with the N.Y. Giants (2011-15) and Houston (2016-17) following a 14-year playing career.
The Seahawks were once again one of the NFL's best teams in 2022 when it came to special teams play. Kicker Jason Myers led the NFL in scoring on his way to a second Pro-Bowl selection, connecting on 34 of 37 field goal attempts, including 6 of 6 from 50-plus yards. The 34 made FGs tied a franchise record (Todd Peterson - 1999). Punter Michael Dickson finished second in the league in net average (44.4 yards per punt), while his 48.5 yards-per-punt gross average was the second best of his five-year career. With special teams captain Nick Bellore helping lead the way, Izzo's special teams unit finished second in analyst Rick Gosselin's annual special team rankings, which are based on where teams finish the season ranked in 22 different special teams statistical categories. It was the Seahawks' third-straight season finishing in the top three of Gosselin's ratings.
Seattle's special teams unit was a strength for the Seahawks in 2021, ranking third in Gosselin's annual ranking. Punter Michael Dickson led the league with 40 punts inside the 20, breaking his old mark, while setting the single-season franchise record. Seattle scored two touchdowns on special teams, the unit's first time finding the end zone since 2017. Travis Homer had a hand in both scores; returning an onside kick 44 yards vs. Jacksonville (10/31/21) and rushing 73 yards on a fake punt vs. San Francisco (12/5/21). Homer also added a pressure on Arizona (1/9/21) punter Andy Lee, which led to a forced fumble, recovery, and ensuing Seattle touchdown drive. Special Teams captain Nick Bellore ranked third in the NFL with 15 special teams tackles. Kicker Jason Myers made a franchise-record 37 consecutive field goals from 11/11/19-9/26/21. It is tied for the fifth-longest streak in NFL history.
In 2020, Izzo's special teams unit had a spectacular season, finishing second in Gosselin's annual special teams rankings, a list kept for the last 42 seasons. Kicker Jason Myers connected on all 24 field goals, finishing 2020 having made 35-consecutive dating back to 2019, a franchise-record. Punter Michael Dickson ranked second in the NFL with a 49.6 punting average and ranked in the top-five in average, net average, and punts landing inside the 20. Long snapper Tyler Ott and special teamer Nick Bellore were voted to their first Pro Bowls.
In 2019, the Seahawks special teams units forced three takeaways and blocked three kicks, while punter Michael Dickson tied Jeff Feagles and Jon Ryan for the franchise-record for most punts landing inside the 20 in a single season with 34.
In 2018, Seattle's special teams included the second-oldest kicker in the league (Sebastian Janikowski) and one of the youngest punters in the league (rookie Michael Dickson). Janikowski went on to become the third player since 1970 to kick three game-winning field goals with no time left on the clock in a season in what was his 19th, and final, season in the NFL. Dickson set the franchise single-season punt average (48.2) and net average (42.5) records while becoming the first rookie punter to be named first-team AP All-Pro since Oakland's Shane Lechler in 2000 and the first Seattle punter to make the Pro Bowl since Rick Tuten in 1994, and the first rookie punter since the Los Angeles Rams' Dale Hatcher in 1985 to be selected to a Pro Bowl.
In Izzo's first season with Houston in 2016, K Nick Novak turned in one of the best seasons in franchise history. Novak tied for second in the NFL with 35 field goals made, which marked his career high and the most in a single season in Texans history.
Izzo joined the Texans after spending five seasons (2011-15) as the assistant special teams coach with the N.Y. Giants, where he was a part of the team's Super Bowl XLVI victory in 2011. In 2015, the Giants finished second in the Dallas Morning News' annual comprehensive ranking of the league's special teams. The unit ranked fifth in opponent kickoff return average (20.3) and tied for first in field goal percentage (93.8). New York was also seventh in the NFL in punt return average (10.2) and 10th in kickoff return average (24.9). The Giants' kickoff team allowed an average return of just 18.3 yards in 2014, which ranked second in the NFL.
In 2012, the special teams made significant contributions to the Giants' winning season and finished seventh in the Dallas Morning News' annual ranking. The Giants led the NFL with five special teams takeaways and their average drive start following a kickoff was at the 25.2-yard line, which led the NFL. The Giants also averaged 26.2 yards per kickoff return, which placed them seventh in the NFL.
In 2011, Izzo's first season with the Giants, he won his fourth Super Bowl ring and first as a coach. He also helped develop a group of rookies who quickly became outstanding special teams players, including Mark Herzlich, Spencer Paysinger, Tyler Sash and Jacquian Williams.
In his 14-year NFL career (1996-2009), Izzo played for three teams, including the Miami Dolphins (1996-2000), New England Patriots (2001-08) and New York Jets (2009). He was a three-time Super Bowl champion with New England (2001, 2003 and 2004) and a three-time Pro Bowler (2000, 2002 and 2004). He is one of 22 people in NFL history to win a Super Bowl as both a player and coach.
He was also credited with 275 special teams tackles in 200 regular season games and 23 more in 21 postseason games. Izzo never played on a team with a losing record and his teams participated in the playoffs nine times, reaching five AFC Championship Games and four Super Bowls. His teammates selected him as a special teams captain nine times, including eight with the Patriots.
Izzo, who is considered one of the best special teams players in NFL history, began his career in 1996 as an undrafted free agent with the Miami Dolphins. He made such a rapid and positive impact that in the preseason, Head Coach Jimmy Johnson said only two players were guaranteed to make the team – future Hall of Fame QB Dan Marino and Izzo.
Izzo, who is from Woodlands, Texas, was a four-year letterman and three-year starter at Rice University, where he played linebacker and finished fourth in school history with 301 tackles, including a record 46 for losses. As a senior captain, he had 121 tackles and was named a consensus first-team All-Southwest Conference selection. He graduated in 2002 with a degree in business.
In 2005, Izzo and Warrick Dunn participated in a USO tour to visit troops stationed overseas. They began their trip at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, where they helped open the Pat Tillman USO Center, then spent time with troops in Baghdad, Kuwait and Qatar.
Born on September 26, 1974, he and his wife, Mara, have two sons, Boston and Hawk.