The Atlanta Falcons coaching search started moving quickly the moment Bill Belichick became available. With team owner Arthur Blank now holding second interviews, it may only be a matter of time until a new Falcons head coach is named.
Atlanta moved on from Arthur Smith after three consecutive 7-10 seasons. Despite investing multiple top-10 picks into the offense and fielding a top-12 defense in 2023, the Falcons missed the playoffs. It prompted Blank, 81, to move on from another head coach and aggressively pursue one of the top NFL coaching candidates this winter.
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In one of the NFL’s deepest pools of head-coach candidates ever, Atlanta seems to be prioritizing experience. Belichick and Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris were each brought in for interviews, along with several other prospective candidates. However, two names appear to be atop the list.
On the Yahoo Sports’ Inside Coverage podcast, NFL insider Charles Robinson provided insight into the Falcons’ coaching search with his belief that Jim Harbaugh will be hired if Atlanta can’t land Belichick.
“If Belichick doesn’t end up in Atlanta, I think Harbaugh ends up in Atlanta. That’s a team that, also obviously interviewed Jim Harbaugh as well. I think Arthur Blank’s top two it’s Belichick and Harbaugh, Those are the two that he really wants, to get one of those two.”
Charles Robinson on the Atlanta Falcons coaching search
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Based on the direction the NFL coaching carousel is headed, the Falcons will likely land their top choice. The Dallas Cowboys decided to stick with Mike McCarthy and the Philadelphia Eagles haven’t made a decision on Nick Sirianni as of Friday morning. As a result, the Falcons’ vacancy is the best one available to Belichick.
As for Harbaugh, it remains likely that he will become the next head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. While the Falcons might still bring him in for a second interview, the expectation around the NFL is for Harbaugh to coach the Chargers and Belichick to coach the Falcons in 2024.
