Former Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen has found a new home, joining the Bills as a senior defensive assistant, according to Bruce Feldman.
SOURCES: Former Jaguars and Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen is expected to join the Bills staff as a senior defensive assistant. Nielsen also spent six seasons with the Saints as D-line coach and co-DC. He drew high interest from multiple teams in this cycle.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) February 6, 2025
The Jaguars finished the 2024 campaign dead last in passing yards allowed and 31st in total defense. Worst of all, there was a report of a disconnect between Nielsen and his players from the start.
While it didn’t work out in Jacksonville, it certainly worked out in Atlanta. The Falcons went from 23rd in points before Nielsen to 18th in 2023 and from 27th in yardage allowed to 11th.
It wasn’t a great defense by any means, but Nielsen seemingly got everything he could out of a bad roster. So, when the Falcons continued to add to the defense this past offseason, including adding a pair of former All-Pros in Matthew Judon and Justin Simmons, the hope was that Jimmy Lake could pick up where Nielsen left off.
On paper, Lake had more talent than Nielsen yet coordinated a far worse defense. The Falcons finished second to last in the NFL when it came to sacks, recording just 31. Atlanta’s defense allowed an EPA of +0.08 per dropback, which ranked 28th overall, and an EPA of -0.02 per carry, which ranked 22nd
It was an awful unit, and the straw that broke the camel’s back was the Falcons’ final game of the season. Bryce Young and the Panthers’ offense put up 44 points, and Lake’s defense was miscommunicating on the backend of the defense. Mind you, this was the last game of the season in a must-win situation, and there were still miscommunications.
Moreover, it’s not like A.J. Terrell, Jessie Bates, Justin Simmons, and Mike Hughes are young guys. They’re veterans, three earning All-Pro honors at some point. That’s a coaching issue. Hopefully, that’s not the case with Jeff Ulbirch, who Raheem Morris hired to replace his friend Jimmy Lake.
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