Now that they have finished up shop on a disastrous four-win season, Atlanta Falcons rumors will surround their search for a full-time head coach to replace the fired Dan Quinn. The Falcons are also in need of a new general manager after moving on from Thomas Dimitroff.
If these latest Falcons rumors are any indication, they might very well look to fill the head coach vacancy first. It could come in the form of respected San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
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Falcons rumors: Team to interview Robert Saleh for head coach opening
Albert Breer from Monday Morning Quarterback was the first to report hours after the Falcons’ season-ending loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that Saleh would get a shot to interview for job. As previously reported, the Detroit Lions are also expected to interview the respected defensive mind.
Saleh, 41, has done a tremendous job since joining Kyle Shanahan’s coaching staff with the 49ers back in 2017. Despite the plethora of injuries this unit dealt with during the 2020 season, it still finished top five in total defense. This came after San Francisco yielded the second-fewest yards in the NFL en route to earning a shocking Super Bowl appearance in 2019.
It goes without saying that Robert Saleh’s name is among the most talked about when it comes to this year’s NFL coaching cycle. He’s been linked more to his native Detroit Lions than any other team. However, these Falcons rumors make a ton of sense.
Interim head coach Raheem Morris will not be back in that role next season. Atlanta also gave up nearly 26 points per game during the 2020 season.
All of this comes with rumors suggesting that Atlanta could blow it all up by trading Matt Ryan and Julio Jones, two future Hall of Fame players. Obviously, Saleh’s interview with the team will focus some on that.
Prior to joining the 49ers’ coaching staff, Saleh served as an assistant coach with the Texans, Seahawks and Jaguars. As for Falcons rumors relating to a new head coach, this promises to be the first of many interviews the organization conducts following their worst season since all the way back in 2013.
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