Falcons Head Coach Search: Joe Brady

Who should the Falcons hire to whip the team into Championship form?

For years Arthur Blank has promised Falcons’ fans an elite, championship-caliber team. Atlanta currently possesses (mostly) championship-caliber talent, especially on offense. However, now Blank has the opportunity to hire a coach who will help solidify the Falcons as a first-class team for years to come. So, “Who is the ideal coach for the Atlanta Falcons?”

Joe Brady

Joe Brady has my vote. He is currently the offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers. You may also remember him as the brains behind the LSU passing offense last year. At only 31 years old, he has coached under Sean Payton, Joe Moorhead, and Pete Carmichael. He’s helped elite quarterbacks reach their full potential and offenses take the next step. Brady has also coached defense, which gives him a better understanding of how to create mismatches in the backfield, something he has been praised for early on in his coaching career. Let’s look more in-depth at his credentials thus far in his short yet impressive tenure as a coach.

Career

 

-Played Wide Receiver at William and Mary

-William and Mary-linebackers coach (2013-2014)

-Penn State-coaching assistant (2015-2016)

-New Orleans Saints-offensive assistant (2017-2018)

-LSU-passing game coordinator/wide receiver coach (2019)

-Carolina Panthers-offensive coordinator (2020)

 

While Brady has moved around quite a bit, it is increasingly apparent that he is a football coaching prodigy. The passing offense from 2019 that I mentioned earlier was flawless. QB Joe Burrow went from throwing only 16 touchdowns the prior season to an amazing 60 during their championship run — an NCAA record. Burrow, of course, also ran away with the Heisman Trophy vote, and the Tigers went a perfect 15-0. 

Even though Brady had never actually called a full game of football when he came to Carolina, the stats (like Shakira’s hips) don’t lie. His offense is averaging more yards per pass/run, on track to score more total touchdowns, have fewer sacks, and have more yards per attempt/run than the 2019 Panthers team, and it’s not very close. That’s even more incredible when you consider all the turnover this team experienced over the offseason and the fact that Christian McCaffrey — undoubtedly Carolina’s best player — has been injured the entire season. 

 

Takeaways

 

Joe Brady is quite possibly the next great offensive mind of the NFL and is prime for the picking to be Atlanta’s head coach in 2021 and beyond. He has a defensive background and an incredible understanding of football from all angles, something every elite head coach needs. Brady has helped great quarterbacks reach their full potential, but his performance thus far with Teddy Bridgewater and below-average secondary pieces is perhaps even more impressive. Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, and Russell Gage would thrive under his command. As much as I would normally be against an ex-Panther and ex-Saint as the next Falcons head coach, this man could be the answer to Atlanta’s issues. 

 

Who do you think would make a good head coach in Atlanta?

Let me know in the comments below, on Twitter or Facebook!