Zach Azzanni has coached wide receivers for 27 years, spending the last nine seasons coaching that group in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2024-25), New York Jets (2023), Denver Broncos (2018-22) and Chicago Bears (2017), following 18 years at the collegiate level.
In his second season as the Steelers' wide receivers coach in 2025, Azzanni helped WR D.K. Metcalf finish with team highs in receiving yards (850) and receiving touchdowns (six). Â In 2024, he mentored the breakout WR Calvin Austin III, who recorded 36 receptions for 548 yards and four TDs, averaging 15.2 yards per catch.
Prior to his time with the Steelers, Azzanni spent one season with the New York Jets in 2023. He helped WR Garrett Wilson finish with 95 receptions for 1,042 yards and three TDs, making him the first wideout in Jets history to record 1,000-plus yards receiving in each of his first two seasons in the NFL. He was also only the third receiver in franchise history to record 80+ receptions in back-to-back seasons and ninth player in NFL history to record 80+ receptions in each of his first two seasons.
From 2018-2021, Azzanni served as the wide receivers coach for the Denver Broncos. He mentored first-round pick Jerry Jeudy in 2020 as he caught 52 passes for 856 yards (16.5 avg.) with three TDs – the second-most receptions (52) and receiving yards (856) ever by a Denver rookie – while second rounder KJ Hamler caught 30 passes for 381 yards (12.7 avg.) with three TDs. Undrafted wide receiver Tim Patrick developed into a full-time starter in his four seasons working with Azzanni. Patrick led the team in 2020 with six TDs on 51 catches for 742 yards (14.5 avg.).
In 2019, Azzanni coached Sutton to his first career Pro Bowl selection in just his second season after leading the team with 72 receptions for 1,112 yards with six TDs. Sutton, who recorded the most receiving yards (1,816) and receiving TDs (10) in Broncos history through his first two NFL seasons, became the first receiver in franchise history to be named to the Pro Bowl by his second year.
In 2018, Azzanni was instrumental in developing first-year receivers Sutton (42-704, 4 TDs), DaeSean Hamilton (30-243, 2 TDs) and Patrick (23-315, 1 TD), who combined for 95 receptions for 1,262 yards (13.3 avg.) with seven TDs. Sutton's 704 receiving yards ranked fourth in franchise history for a rookie.
He spent the 2017 campaign with the Chicago Bears following 18 years at the collegiate level. Before joining the Bears, Azzanni spent four years at the University of Tennessee. He joined the Vols as wide receivers coach/recruiting coordinator in 2013 before being promoted to passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach in 2015. Tennessee went to three consecutive bowl games (2014-16), winning each contest while averaging nearly 43 points per game. The Vols' passing attack in 2016, which featured six different players with at least 200 yards receiving, helped set school records for single-season points (473) and TDs (63).
Azzanni spent one season each at the University of Wisconsin (2012 – wide receivers coach), Western Kentucky University (2011 – offensive coordinator/wide receivers) and the University of Florida (2010 – wide receivers/passing game coordinator). Azzanni coached in three bowl games at Florida and Wisconsin, including two BCS Bowls, and won the Big Ten Championship in 2012.
Azzanni spent three years as assistant head coach/wide receivers at his alma mater, Central Michigan University, from (2007-09), and won a pair of Mid-American Conference Championships. He was the lead recruiter for wide receiver Antonio Brown and tackle Eric Fisher, who was the 2013 NFL Draft No. 1 overall pick by Kansas City.Â
After beginning his coaching career as wide receivers coach for Valparaiso University (1999-2000), Azzanni worked as a graduate assistant under Head Coach Urban Meyer at Bowling Green (2001-02). He stayed with the school for four more seasons (2003-06) as wide receivers coach. A former wide receiver at Central Michigan (1994-98), Azzanni graduated from the school with a degree in sports management in 1999.
