Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is set to make a return to the Super Bowl after a seven-year absence. He will be part of the CBS broadcast for the upcoming Super Bowl matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas. This marks Ryan’s first season as a broadcaster for the network.
On another note, the Washington Commanders have hired Dan Quinn, former head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, as part of their coaching staff. Quinn, who led the Falcons to the Super Bowl in 2016, spent the past three seasons as the defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys. Interestingly, Quinn will have the opportunity to face his former team, the Falcons, in a game during the 2024 season.
The Falcons have been active in assembling their coaching staff, recently hiring Jay Rodgers as their defensive line coach and Jimmy Lake as their defensive coordinator. Rodgers brings extensive NFL experience from his time with the Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, and Los Angeles Chargers. Lake, previously the head coach of the Washington Huskies, specializes in coaching defensive backs and served as the Rams’ associate head coach before joining the Falcons.
In addition to these hires, Marquice Williams will remain with the Falcons as their special teams coordinator. This solidifies the special teams coaching staff for head coach Raheem Morris, who also secured Zac Robinson for the offense and Lake for the defense.
Raheem Morris has been actively involved in the coaching search, interviewing candidates such as Ejiro Evero and Ben Johnson. Morris has also shown interest in bringing back former Falcons coach Raheem Morris, who is currently the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams.
The Falcons’ coaching search has been ongoing, with recent interviews of candidates like Mike Macdonald, Anthony Weaver, and Mike Vrabel. The team is taking a thorough approach to find the right fit for their head coaching position after parting ways with Arthur Smith following a third-straight losing season.
There are indications that the Falcons are making progress in finalizing their head coaching job, with reports suggesting increased activity in the negotiations with potential candidates. This includes strong interest from legendary coach Bill Belichick, who reportedly had a dinner meeting with Falcons owner Arthur Blank as part of the interview process.
The coaching interview list for the Falcons continues to grow, with Brian Johnson, the offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, recently being interviewed for the position. Meanwhile, special teams coordinator Marquice Williams has garnered interest from other teams, with the New England Patriots requesting an interview for their vacant special teams coordinator position.
Despite receiving interview requests for some of their coaching staff, the Falcons have been proactive in blocking lateral moves, maintaining stability in key coaching positions. This includes denying interview requests for defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen and offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford.
