Falcons Report: Terry Fontenot and Joe Brady union is “very possible”

I fully expect the Falcons to hire a general manager within the week, and reports are already churning on Monday before lunch.

Said this on @CBSSportsNet yesterday: sources have told me a Terry Fontenot/Joe Brady union in Atlanta is very possible. Of course the Falcons are still conducting their robust search for a GM and HC.

— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) January 11, 2021

 

I would be very excited with this pairing, as Joe Brady was who I wanted to replace Dirk Koetter at the end of the 2019-2020 season. Brady has done fantastic things with limited weapons in Carolina’s offense, most notably with Mike Davis and DJ Moore. Terry Fontenot has helped build the Saints into what they are as the vice president of scouting. I’ll leave some quotes from our profile on Joe Brady and our profile on Terry Fontenot.

 

While Carolina hasn’t been explosive, they’ve been respectable offensively — especially given their personnel. It still might be a little early to hand Brady the keys to a franchise, but he’s rightfully deserving of looks with everyone trying to find the next Kyle Shanahan or Sean McVay.

The interview is vital for all potential candidates, but it is probably more crucial for Brady than anyone. When addressing the media at his end of the season press conference, Arthur Blank talked about how Bobby Petrino’s hiring set the Falcons back years because they were looking so desperately for a brilliant offensive mind.

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.

 

Fontenot has been with the AINTS for over 18 years, which has undoubtedly been their best years. He’s been heavily involved as a scout and with player personnel during his time. The Saints have drafted very well since he came on board — most notably in 2017. They also plucked impact players like DeMario Davis from the Jets. While the cap situation in New Orleans for 2021 is actually a dumpster fire, Fontenot mostly handles player evaluation and scouting for all leagues and future opponents (and he’s good at it).

 

Atlanta is likely very close to naming their staff of the future.