Parmalee not retained; Kitchings named RBs coach

Bernie Parmalee, the Falcons former special-teams coordinator and running backs coach, was not retained by the team.

Parmalee was under contract and was in the running for a staff position under new coach Arthur Smith. His bio has since been removed from the team’s website.

Falcons hired Desmond Kitchings, 42, formerly of South Carolina as the running back coach, the team announced Thursday morning.

Under Kitchings, Kevin Harris rushed for 1,138 yards last season, the first 1,000-yard season for a South Carolina running back since 2010.

After Dan Quinn was fired Oct. 11, Parmalee took over as special-teams coordinator for Ben Kotwica. He was with the Falcons from 2018-20 as the running backs coach and special-teams assistant/offensive assistant.

Kitchings, who played at Furman, has coached at Furman, Vanderbilt, Air Force, N.C. State and South Carolina.

Parmalee played nine years in the NFL from 1992-2000 with the Dolphins and Jets.

Senior defensive assistant Bob Sutton, tight ends coach Ben Steele, defensive backs coach Doug Mallory and defensive assistant Lance Schulters are the coaches from the previous regime still under contract and listed on the team website.

Falcons’ 2021 draft position

1. Jacksonville Jaguars

2. New York Jets

3. Miami Dolphins (via Houston)

4. Falcons

5. Cincinnati Bengals

The Bow Tie Chronicles Podcasts: