FLOWERY BRANCH -- The Falcons are set to interview former New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan on Tuesday, according to league-owned NFL Media.
Ryan interviewed for the Falcons vacancy back after the 2007 season when the job went to Mike Smith. Because the Falcons are set to open sells for premium seat licenses (PSLs) for the new $1.4 billion sta
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
dium, Ryan and his personality seem to be a better fit this time around.
The Atlanta defense which has been coordinated by Mike Nolan the past two seasons already runs the schemes that Ryan uses. When Nolan was the defensive coordinator in Baltimore from 2002-04, Ryan was on his staff as the defensive line coach.
When Nolan left to become the head coach at San Francisco, Ryan replaced him as the defensive coordinator.
The search-firm Korn Ferry, which only takes one NFL team as season, has been retained by the Falcons to help with the search. Korn Ferry helped with the hiring of Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien and Kansas City’s hiring of Andy Reid.
The Falcons were set to interview Denver offensive coordinator Adam Gase and New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels on Friday.
"It's a great opportunity to be able to do this, and for these guys to reach out and want to talk to me," Gase told the Denver Post. " I'm excited about it, but I'm also excited about the fact that we (the Broncos) have another chance to make a run. We have a good team. Last year we fell short, and this is another opportunity for us to try to get one."
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Gase has Denver quarterback Peyton Manning's endorsement.
"I don't think you need me to sit up here and campaign for him," Manning told the Denver Post. "Last year I talked to a couple teams on behalf of him that reached out to me, and that may happen again, so I'm certainly glad to share my thoughts. I think it's pretty well-documented my thoughts on him.
"But I'm excited that he has the opportunity that he's going to have this weekend. He deserves it. I think the teams that he talks to will be impressed."
In addition to Ryan, Gase and McDaniel, the Falcons reportedly set to interview Doug Marrone and have sought permission to interview Detroit defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, Arizona defensive coordinator Todd Bowles and Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.
Ryan posted a 46-50 record in New York over six seasons. He lead the Jets to two AFC championship games.
Ryan is the son of legendary NFL coach Buddy Ryan.
Austin has support of Detroit head coach Jim Caldwell.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
"For all of us, for him, I think and his family, I think he's deserving of it. and I think he's going to get one," Caldwell told the Detroit Free Press. "I think if, once they get an opportunity to see him and listen to him and watch what he's been able to do, I think it'll happen for him and I think it'll be absolutely outstanding."
Marrone and Bowles have local ties.
Marrone was an assistant coach at Georgia and Georgia Tech. He was the Bulldogs’ offensive line coach in 2000, and he was on the Yellow Jackets’ staff from 1995-99. He was a football operations assistant in 1995, tight ends coach in 1996 and offensive line coach from 1997-99.
Bowles is not available until the Cardinals are eliminated from the playoffs. After an 8-year NFL career, Bowles' first coaching job was as defensive coordinator/secondary coach at Morehouse in 1997. He played at Temple with Falcons special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong.
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