Falcons Coaching Candidates Take Center Stage In Sunday's Divisional Games
The Atlanta Falcons may not be in the playoffs this season, but the team's brass should be watching Sunday's Divisional Round Games very closely.
Sunday's slate features two games, with the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers taking on the Detroit Lions in the NFC and the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills set to renew their fierce rivalry in the AFC. Both of those games should be of interest to the Falcons, as between them, three candidates for their coaching vacancy will be on the sidelines. While Atlanta may have zeroed in on former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, they still would like to keep their options open in case that doesn't work out.
With that said, here are the three coaches Atlanta fans should keep an eye on in Sunday's action.
Ben Johnson, Lions offensive coordinator
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Johnson, 37, is a very popular man right now, with six different teams requesting to speak with him for their head-coaching vacancies. Looking at the Lions' offense this season, it's easy to see why.
Under Johnson's leadership, the Lions finished near the top of the league in most offensive stats this season. Detroit's offense finished fifth in points scored, third in total yards, second in passing yards and fifth in rushing yards. The Lions can attack opposing defense from nearly every angle, and with the Falcons having an abundance of skill-position players, that's a quality they'd like to emulate themselves.
Johnson has been linked to other teams more than the Falcons, but he was one of the first coaches they requested to interview. If his Lions put up another strong offensive performance on Sunday, he will only become an even more popular name.
Aaron Glenn, Lions defensive coordinator
Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn walks off the field after 20-6 win over Atlanta Falcons at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023.
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Atlanta should be watching both sides of the ball in Detroit, as the club has requested to interview both of the Lions' coordinators. Glenn, 51, isn't quite as hot of a candidate as his counterpart with only four interview requests, but he has received those requests for a reason.
Yes, the Lions' defense hasn't been that great statistically speaking, except for the fact that they finished second against the run. However, Glenn is clearly a coach that players look up to, as he ranked as the top defensive coordinator in the league on a recent NFLPA survey. Add in the fact that he has helped developed players such as defensive end Aidan Hutchinson in Detroit, and it makes sense why Glenn's name is such a hot one right now.
Joe Brady, Bills interim offensive coordinator
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Brady, 34, is the newest addition to the Falcons' interview list, as they only requested to speak with him on Friday. Atlanta is the only team to request an interview with Brady so far, but if the Bills continue to do well in the playoffs, the list of teams ringing his phone should only grow.
Brady only recently became the Bills' offensive coordinator, as he took over for the fired Ken Dorsey in mid-November. That move has proven to be a great one for the Bills, as they've gone 7-1 with him calling the shots. While Dorsey's offense largely revolved around Josh Allen's arm, Brady has employed a more balanced approach with James Cook and the ground game.
Brady is also well-known for his endeavors at the college level, as he was one of the architects of the legendary 2019 LSU Tigers offense that broke an NCAA record with 726 points that season. He clearly knows how to run an offense, and a coach with his acumen could be just what Atlanta needed.
