Falcons’ new coaching staff

Atlanta Falcons

Falcons’ new coaching staff

New Falcons coach Arthur Smith has assembled a grouping of coaches that he has had some familiarity during his NFL career.

Of the 19 assistants new Falcons coach Arthur Smith has assembled, the majority have worked alongside him previously. Here are the connections among the new Falcons coaching staff.

Offensive coordinator Dave Ragone: Ragone and Smith worked at Tennessee together from 2011-13.

Defensive coordinator Dean Pees: Pees was Tennessee’s defensive coordinator from 2018-19, which came after spending the final six of his eight years as the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive coordinator.

Receivers coach Dave Brock: When Smith played college football at North Carolina, Brock was on the coaching staff as the receivers coach in 2005 and the assistant to the head coach in 2006.

Linebackers coach Frank Bush: Bush was the Titans’ linebackers coach in 2011 and 2012, which coincide with Smith’s first two years there.

Quarterbacks coach Charles London: London was an offensive quality-control coach with the Titans in 2011, which also served as Smith’s first season in Tennessee. London worked with Ragone in Chicago.

Outside linebackers coach Ted Monachino: Monachino has not coached with Smith, but he was the outside linebackers coach with the Ravens when Pees was the defensive coordinator.

Running backs coach Desmond Kitchings: Kitchings hasn’t coached with Smith before, but they share a strong connection. Kitchings coached running backs at Vanderbilt from 2008-10 alongside Robbie Caldwell, who as offensive line coach at North Carolina, played a role in recruiting Smith to the Tar Heels.

Defensive assistant Matt Pees: Matt Pees is Dean Pees’ son. He also worked with Smith in Tennessee as a defensive assistant and quality-control coach in 2018 and 2019.

Defensive line coach Gary Emanuel: Although Emanuel doesn’t have a direct tie to Smith, he was the Colts’ defensive line coach from 2012-17. This coincided with Monachino, who was the Colts’ defensive coordinator in 2016 and 2017.

Senior assistant Steve Hoffman: Hoffman was the Titans’ assistant special-teams coordinator from 2013-16 and was promoted to special-teams coordinator during the 2016 season. Hoffman and Smith worked for a combined five years in Tennessee.

Secondary coach Jon Hoke: Hoke was on the Bears’ staff from 2009-14, which overlapped with Williams for two years.

Offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford: When Ledford was with the Tar Heels, Smith was a fourth-year junior offensive guard.

Tight ends coach Justin Peelle: Peelle played for the Falcons from 2008-10. He has been on the Philadelphia Eagles’ coaching staff since 2013, leading the tight ends group since 2015.

Special-teams coordinator Marquice Williams: Williams and Smith never coached together, but they have a mutual connection. Craig Aukerman was the San Diego Chargers’ special-teams coordinator in 2016, with Williams working as an assistant under him. Aukerman, the Titans’ special-teams coach, became Smith’s colleague with Tennessee in 2017.

Passing-game specialist T.J. Yates: Yates - a onetime backup quarterback with the Falcons - and Smith were teammates at North Carolina.

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Credit: AP

Of the 19 assistants new Falcons coach Arthur Smith has assembled, the majority have worked alongside him previously. Here are the connections among the new Falcons coaching staff.

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