Atlanta Falcons search for a new defensive coordinator: Interviews and updates live tracker
The Atlanta Falcons are doing their due diligence to find their next defensive coordinator. Following the conclusion of the regular season, the Falcons decided to move on from first-year defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake. Atlanta's defense allowed the highest quarterback completion percentage in the NFL at 69.9 percent and the second-most touchdown passes with 34. It also […]
The Atlanta Falcons are doing their due diligence to find their next defensive coordinator.
Following the conclusion of the regular season, the Falcons decided to move on from first-year defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake. Atlanta's defense allowed the highest quarterback completion percentage in the NFL at 69.9 percent and the second-most touchdown passes with 34. It also finished 31st in the league in sacks with just 31.
Below, you will find every candidate the Falcons have interviewed for defensive coordinator.
Falcons defensive coordinator interview live tracker
Completed interviews
- Michigan Wolverines DC Wink Martindale
- New York Jets interim HC Jeff Ulbrich
- Veteran DC (free agent) Lou Anarumo
- Green Bay Packers defensive passing game coordinator Derrick Ansley
- Pittsburgh Steelers secondary coach Grady Brown
- Veteran DC/HC (free agent) Steve Wilks
- Veteran DC/HC (free agent) Matt Eberflus
All of the above candidates have multiple years of experience as a DC. Martindale has 12 years of experience at the position from both the college and professional ranks. Ulbrich has spent five years the Falcons when Dan Quinn was the head coach from 2015-2020.
Anarumo has spent the last six seasons as the Bengals' DC before getting fired at the conclusion of the 2024. Ansley has just one year of experience as an NFL DC, coming in 2023 with the Los Angeles Chargers, but he was also the DC for the Tennessee Volunteers from 2019-2020. Brown is the least experienced, but was a co-defensive coordinator at Old Dominion University in 2019.
Wilks has an extensive history as a DC in the NFL and in the NCAA. He also has been an NFL head coach twice, once with the Arizona Cardinals and the other with the Carolina Panthers as an interim. Eberflus has spent the past three seasons as the head coach of the Chicago Bears. He was previously the defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts, also having experience at the position with the Missouri Tigers.
We will continue to update as the Falcons keep with their search.
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