Falcons owner: Dan Quinn will have final say over 53-man roster
Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank said at a press conference Tuesday that new head coach Dan Quinn will have the final say over the team's 53-man roster.
The Falcons hired Quinn as their head coach on Monday. Quinn spent the last two seasons as the Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator, where the team reached the Super Bowl in both years.
Blank said that general manager Thomas Dimitroff and Quinn will "collaborate fully" in evaluating and building the roster.
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In his introduction, Quinn confirmed that Richard Smith will be Atlanta's defensive coordinator. Quinn said he will be involved in the defense but it is undecided if he will call defensive plays.
Quinn, 44, replaced Mike Smith, who was fired after the Falcons went 6-10 and missed the playoffs for the second straight year. Atlanta’s defense ranked last in the NFL this season, allowing 398 yards and 26 points per game. The Falcons also had the league's worst third-down defense, allowing opponents to convert 46.8 percent of the time.
- Molly Geary
