Earlier this week Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees announced his retirement after 50 years of coaching. Falcons head coach Arthur Smith was able to draw Pees out of retirement once, and got him to come to Atlanta with him in 2021. However, this time it feels like Pees will not be making a return.
With Pees retired, the Falcons must start their search for a new defensive coordinator. On Tuesday night, Rob Tribble gave you five potential candidates who potentially could be in the running for the job.
1.) Frank Bush
If the Falcons want to keep some type of continuity when they play again, the best choice for the new DC is going to be the Falcons' current linebackers Coach, Frank Bush. Bush ran the defense in the Saints game after Pees was hospitalized for a short time after he was run into and knocked down by a player warming up. Back in 2020 Bush spent some time as the interim defensive coordinator for the New York Jets, and Bush was also the DC for the Houston Texans from 2009-2010. Again, if the team really wants continuity that won’t make the “sexy” hire that everybody loves, but they will be making the smart hire with a lot of young defensive players under contract this season coming back and will be in that system for the third straight year.
2.) Tracy Rocker
Eagles defensive line coach Tracy Rocker should be in the mix for the DC job as well. The Falcons have not been able to consistently rush the passer since John Abraham, and Rocker just led his Eagles defensive line to 70 sacks, with four players with at least 10 sacks in the regular season. It’s safe to say that the Falcons could use that kind of boost in their defense that only sacked the quarterback 21 times this season
3.) Terrell Williams
The Titans defensive line coach is another guy much like Tracy Rocker that seems to be another defensive lineman/edge-rush whisperer. Williams has overseen the development of Titans star defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons, and has also gotten the most out of guys like veteran rusher Denico Autry, undrafted free agent Teair Tart, and free agents DeMarcus Walker and Mario Edwards Jr. Finally, not only could Williams help unleash the potential of guys like Arnold Ebiketie and Deangelo Malone, so the Falcons can generate the pass rush they have been needing for years not, but Williams also has the organizational connections as well with Arthur Smith obviously being the offensive coordinator for the Titans before he became the head coach for the Falcons.
4.) Vic Fangio
Vic Fangio, who is currently a defensive consultant for the Eagles, seems like a bit of a long shot. But he’s worth mentioning because of the connections to the Chicago group that is now with the Falcons. But the writing on the wall makes it seem like wherever Sean Payton goes, if he ends up a head coach somewhere, Fangio would follow. However, if that all falls through it would be a heck of a move to go from one of the best defensive coordinators of all time in Pees to another in Fangio.
5.) Jim Schwartz
Much like Fangio, Jim Schwartz is one of the better defensive coordinators of this generation. After a nice run as the DC for the Eagles in 2021, he decided to take a step back from coaching, but joined the Tennessee Titans staff as a senior defensive assistant very soon after. Again with the tie Arthur Smith has to the Titans the fit is there, the only question would be if Schwartz wants to be a defensive coordinator again. If he does, he’s likely going to be a candidate for the job.
Other names to look out for are Brian Flores, Lovie Smith, and Ejiro Evero, but the Falcons probably won’t make any serious moves until after the Super Bowl. The Dirty Birds seem to have plenty of good options either way, so it will be interesting to see what direction they go in as they try to replace an all-time great in Pees.