With the recent retirement of Mike Mularkey, the Falcons promoted Ben Steele to the vacant tight ends coach position Wednesday.

“Ben has had a positive impact on tight ends he has worked,” coach Dan Quinn said in a statement released by the team.

Steele joined the Falcons as an offensive assistant in 2019 after spending the previous five seasons with Tampa.

Steele was selected as a head coach for the East-West Shrine Bowl college all-star game following the 2019 season.

Steele served as Tampa Bay’s tight ends coach in 2017 and 2018. The team drafted tight end O.J. Howard with the 19th overall pick in 2017, and he didn’t blossom in two seasons under Steele.

Howard had 26 and 34 catches in his first two seasons. He had 34 again in 2019.

Steele played in the NFL from 2001-07 with the 49ers, Raiders, Vikings, Seahawks, Packers and Texans.

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