The Falcons are moving into a new era under Raheem Morris, but familiar faces are still around the league and are entering new phases in their careers as well.
Matt Ryan is attacking the TV side of the game after spending the season in the booth with CBS as a broadcaster. He’s been in and around every NFL event since the season ended, and the former Falcons great is already looking like a natural in his new role.
Dan Quinn, on the other hand, is still on the competitive side of the league, taking the Commanders head coaching gig under new owner Josh Harris. The former Falcons head coach apparently had a wave of endorsements roll in on his behalf, including from Atlanta’s owner Arthur Blank.
“To have Atlanta endorse Dan was powerful,” one person involved said, via ESPN.
Dan Quinn led the Falcons to an 8-8 record during his first season but led the club to an 11-5 finish the following one, winning the NFC South before capturing a couple of postseason victories on their way to the Super Bowl.
It ended in misery, but Ryan won MVP and the offense broke a ton of records. It was a magical run that just fell short. The next season, Atlanta went 10-6 and got ousted in the NFC division round.
That would be the last time the Falcons played in the playoffs. The club went 7-9 in each of the next two seasons, and then Quinn was fired after an 0-5 start to the 2020 campaign.
It’s clear that Arthur Blank still has a close relationship with Matt Ryan and Dan Quinn, or else he wouldn’t go out of his way to give his endorsement.
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Photographer: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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