Following Arthur Smith’s firing on Sunday night, the Atlanta Falcons’ search for a new head coach has officially moved forward. Atlanta has asked for permission to interview five candidates: two offensively and three defensively. The Falcons want to talk with the Detroit Lions’ Ben Johnson and the Cincinnati Bengals’ Brian Callahan, both offensive coordinators.
Following Arthur Smith’s firing on Sunday night, the Atlanta Falcons’ search for a new head coach has officially moved forward. Atlanta has asked for permission to interview five candidates: two offensively and three defensively. The Falcons want to talk with the Detroit Lions’ Ben Johnson and the Cincinnati Bengals’ Brian Callahan, both offensive coordinators.
Atlanta has requested to interview Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Baltimore Ravens defensive line coach and assistant head coach Anthony Weaver, and San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. Johnson has been widely regarded as one of the NFL’s top young offensive minds over the last two years, helping the Lions (12-5) rank third in the league in yards per game (394.8) and fifth in points per game (27.1).
In Cincinnati, Callahan did not call the plays; instead, head coach Zac Taylor did. He formerly coached quarterbacks for the Denver Broncos (2015), the Detroit Lions (2016–2017), and the Oakland Raiders (2018). Glenn’s defense hasn’t been as strong, ranking No. 19 in yards allowed (336.1 per game) and No. 23 in points allowed (23.2 per game).
Detroit has the league’s No. 2 run defense, giving up only 88.8 yards per game, but the No. 27 pass defense, allowing 247.4 aerial yards per game. Glenn, who spent 15 years in the NFL and worked with Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot with the New Orleans Saints from 2016 to 2020, was just named the league’s top coordinator in the NFLPA’s player-based voting. Weaver spent seven seasons in the NFL as a defensive end, starting 98 of his 103 career games. Weaver formerly coached the defensive line for the Houston Texans, Cleveland Browns, and Buffalo Bills before joining the Ravens.
As the Ravens’ defensive run game coordinator in 2021, Weaver helped the team lead the league in rushing defense, allowing only 84.5 yards per game. The Ravens lead the NFL in sacks this season, with 60, led by 13 from breakout defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, who has progressively improved under Weaver. Wilks rose to prominence as the Carolina Panthers’ defensive coordinator in 2017, before becoming the Arizona Cardinals’ head coach the following season.
His time in Arizona lasted only one season, as the Cardinals finished 3-13. Wilks rehabilitated his reputation in 2022, when he served as interim head coach for the Panthers and led them to a 6-6 record while overseeing an astonishing midseason turnaround. San Francisco’s defense is ranked eighth in total defense (303.9 yards allowed per game), fourteenth in pass defense (214.2 yards passing allowed per game), third in run defense (89.7 rushing yards allowed per game), and third in scoring (17.5 points allowed).
Owner Arthur Blank and CEO Rich McKay are leading the Falcons’ search, and general manager Terry Fontenot will be “heavily involved,” according to Blank.
Related: Falcons Planning a ‘Big Swing’ Hire for Belichick? There is presently no deadline for Atlanta’s decision.
