Ranking 7 Falcons Head Coaching Prospects
The Atlanta Falcons are without a head coach, but the front office is leaving no stone unturned.
So far, the Falcons have interviewed seven head coaching candidates:
Mike Macdonald
Steve Wilks
Brian Callahan
Ejiro Evero
Bill Belichick
Anthony Weaver
Jim Harbaugh
Let's rank them...
Bill Belichick is one of the leading candidates to replace former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith.
7. Ejiro Evero
Currently 43 years old and the Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator. Evero has proven the ability to elevate a defense, especially in the secondary.
He began as a safety coach for the Rams in 2017 before becoming the Broncos defensive coordinator in 2022 and the Panthers defensive coordinator this season.
Despite drastic improvement to each secondary during time with each franchise, he remains an unproven commodity as a head coach. A skill set that isn’t necessarily the most important to turn around Atlanta.
6. Mike Macdonald
Mike Macdonald didn’t have the longest resume at just 36 years old, but he has been successful in his young coaching career.
Macdonald is a Georgia native with most of his experience tied to the Harbaugh brothers, helping them with their defenses.
Coached defensive positions for the Ravens going back to 2014, then did one season as the Michigan defensive coordinator with Jim Harbaugh before returning to John Harbaugh in 2022 and assuming the same position.
Although being a popular name based on Baltimore’s success right now, I feel that the Falcons would be better served by getting a more proven head coaching candidate. Someone who is experienced can help lead this young roster into the playoffs.
5. Steve Wilks
Although some may feel that lack of head coaching success is a strike against a candidate, growth over the years implies that Steve Wilks could be a solid fit for Atlanta despite some struggles as a head coach.
Wilks started as a defensive backs coach for the Carolina Panthers in 2012 before becoming the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator.
Unfortunately, he had one atrocious season as the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2018, where the team went 3-13.
Following that lone season, he was fired and returned to the Panthers, where he eventually became interim coach and led the squad to a 6-6 record, getting the team to buy in.
Since 2022, he’s been the San Francisco 49ers' defensive coordinator, helping them become one of the top teams in the NFL.
Despite a rocky start as a head coach, the experience and improvement in his second opportunity are enough reason to believe that he could be the man to get the Falcons back into the playoffs.
4. Anthony Weaver
As far as defense coordinators go, perhaps Coach is more well-equipped to make the jump to being a head coach than Weaver.
After starting off as a defensive line coach with the Cleveland Browns in 2014, Weaver has found success with the Houston Texans and now with the Ravens as a defensive coordinator and assistant head coach.
At age 60, Weaver has proven successful as a defensive mind in the NFL, regardless of which team he’s been on. So, I trust that he would elevate the Falcons' defense beyond anything fans saw a season ago if given the head coaching opportunity.
3. Brian Callahan
Considering how much Atlanta‘s offense has struggled in recent years despite spending premium draft capital, I believe Callahan could be one of the best fits to turn around this organization.
The current Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator began coaching with the Denver Broncos in 2010 as an assistant.
After a stint as a quarterbacks coach with both the Detroit Lions and Raiders, he has been the Bengals offensive coordinator since 2019.
While some may point to Joe Burrow as the reason for his success, Callahan has utilized playmakers such as Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase, and Joe Mixon while helping lead the team to a Super Bowl.
Perhaps even more impressive is the production he got from backup quarterback Jake Browning this season after Burrow was injured.
It could be time for the Falcons to take a chance on a coach who could maximize the potential of its skill players and elevate the play of whoever the next quarterback will be. In this coaching cycle, arguably, nobody looks as good on paper to accomplish those tasks as Callahan.
2. Jim Harbaugh
Now starts the flashy names. The khaki-wearing head coach Jim Harbaugh has a lot of believers.
The 60-year-old is proven to be a winner at the college football level, where he just won Michigan a national championship as the team's head coach. On top of that, he was one of the best head coaches in the NFL back during his time with the 49ers.
Coach Harbaugh took San Francisco to three straight conference championship games during his first three seasons as the team's head coach and even led them to the Superbowl in 2012. During his time as an FL head coach, he compiled a record of 49-22-1 before transforming Michigan, his Alma mater, into a champion contender and eventual champion.
Harbaugh has a big personality and is a proven winner at all levels who should have no issue coming back into the NFL and being one of its top coaches. If the Falcons can sign him, they should sign him.
1. Bill Belichick
This is obviously the most decorated head coach option on the market, and despite recent struggles, Belichick is likely still one of the top head coaches in the league; his biggest struggle has come as a general manager for the New England Patriots, a role that hopefully he would not have in Atlanta.
In 24 seasons with the Patriots, he won six Super Bowls. The man has coached since 1975, before many of these other candidates were alive.
He may not have the most exciting personality in front of the mic, but he is the most decorated coach in NFL history.
Belichick has the most playoff wins of any coach (31), eight Super Bowl rings (two with the New York Giants defensive coordinator), the most divisional championships (17), is a three-time coach of the year, a former executive of the year, the 2000s and 2010s all decade, has 12 Super Bowl, and is guaranteed future Hall of Famer.
Quite simply, there has never been and will likely never be another Coach with Belichick’s ésumé, let alone one on the market.
There’s perceived to be mutual interest between the two parties, and signing a coach who’s done so much would be an absolute slam dunk this off-season if Atlanta can pull off the signing.
