Falcons set to interview Bowles today
FLOWERY BRANCH – The Falcons are set to interview Todd Bowles, one of the leading candidates to replace head coach Mike Smith, today.
His interview was pushed after the death and funeral for Molly Blank, the mother of Falcons owner Arthur Blank.
However, he's been on the team's radar from the outset of the coaching search , but couldn't interview until the Cardinals were eliminated from the playoffs.
Bowles is one of the hottest candidates out on the NFL head-coaching circuit right now. He's also interviewed with the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers and the New York Jets.
The Falcons had a chance to watch Bowles up close when Arizona faced the Falcons in the Georgia Dome last season. It wasn't a good day for his unit as the Falcons amassed 500 total yards in a 29-18 victory.
Bowles received a contract extension from the Cardinals through 2017 during the season. Arizona head coach Bruce Arians said the extension was given in-part so that Bowles could be selective during the hiring process.
Bowles, a former NFL player, started his coaching career as the defensive coordinator/secondary coach at Morehouse in 1997.
The Falcons' opening is considered the most attractive one or second-most attractive behind San Francisco because of quarterback Matt Ryan. The other teams -- New York Jets, Buffalo, Chicago and Oakland -- looking for a coach do not have stable quarterback situations.
Bowles was hired as the Cardinals defensive coordinator on Jan. 21, 2013 after spending the 2012 season with Philadelphia Eagles.
He’s a 14-year NFL assistant who has also coached with the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins during his career.
In his first year in Arizona, the Cardinals had the NFL’s 6th ranked defense and No. 1 ranked run defense. They allowed the fewest rushing yards in team history for a 16-game season (1,351 yards), had 47.0 sacks (3rd in team history) and 30 takeaways (tied for 6th in NFL), including 20 interceptions (5th in NFL).
Without linebackers John Abraham, Karlos Dansby and Daryl Washington, the Cardinals defense took a step backwards last season.
The Cardinals gave up 368.2 yards overall, which ranked 24th in the league. They gave up 108.7 yards rushing per game (13th) and 259.5 passing (29th). The Cardinals had 35 sacks (24th). They were able to race out to a 9-2 record and earn a playoff berth because Bowles' unit created 25 takeaways (18 interceptions, 7 fumble recoveries), which ranked fifth in the league.
Bowles played defensive back in the NFL for eight seasons with the Washington Redskins (1986-90; 1992-93) and San Francisco 49ers (1991).
He played collegiately at Temple (1982-85) where he was a team captain under Arians in 1985 and played with Falcons special teams coach Keith Armstrong (running back/defensive back 1983-86).
He was a member of the 1987 Washington Redskins Super Bowl XXII championship team.
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About the Author
Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
