The Falcons made the obvious decision to move on from defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake yesterday. The hire was questionable when it was announced, and it didn’t take long for Lake to appear in way over his head. Atlanta’s defense took a step back across the board, finishing 31st in sacks, 23rd in yards allowed per game, and 23rd in scoring defense, despite boasting an average unit in 2023 and adding Matthew Judon and Justin Simmons last offseason.
The search is now on for Raheem Morris and Terry Fontenot to replace Lake, and there a few candidates with obvious ties to the organization that will assuredly be considered.
Jeff Ulbrich
Can somebody say Déjà vu? Back in 2020, the Falcons fired Dan Quinn and made Raheem Morris the interim head coach who named Jeff Ulbrich the defensive coordinator. Atlanta would move on at the end of the season, only to circle back and hire Raheem Morris as the head coach last offseason. With the defensive coordinator position now open, don’t be surprised if Ulbrich is considered for the job. He’s been the DC for the Jets over the last three years and served as the interim head coach after Robert Saleh was fired earlier this season.
Steve Wilks
Steve Wilks is another name that’s been connected to the Falcons early on in the process, as he was spotted at Falcons practices throughout the season. The 55-year-old has three decades of coaching experience, two of which he’s spent at the NFL level, most recently with the 49ers as their defensive coordinator in 2023. Wilks is well respected around the league and would certainly be a considerable upgrade over what the Falcons had this season in Jimmy Lake.
Dennis Allen
This is probably the most intriguing name that’s been brought up since it was announced that Jimmy Lake had been relieved of his duties. Dennis Allen was fired by the Saints mid-season after severely underwhelming as their head coach, a decision that was likely long overdue. However, while Allen leaves a lot to be desired as a head coach, he’s still a brilliant defensive mind. There is also a connection between he and Terry Fontenot from Allen’s time in New Orleans, and on top of that, Allen is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. He’d be a home run hire if the Falcons could pull it off.
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Photographer: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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