Falcons 'Very Impressed' by Texans' Bobby Slowik, Eye Second Coach Interview
The Atlanta Falcons' head coaching search may have a new player.
Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, who met virtually with Atlanta on Jan. 21, is emerging as a premiere contender to replace Arthur Smith as the Falcons' next head coach.
"Atlanta was very impressed," NFL Network said of the meeting with Slowik.
The Falcons are scheduled to meet with Slowik again Thursday. The interview will be in-person at team headquarters in Flowery Branch.
The 36-year-old Slowik would be the NFL's youngest active head coach but comes with quite the track record of quarterback development and offensive improvement, particularly of relevance to the Falcons.
Dec 31, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik on the sideline during the game against the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium.
Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Slowik spent six years under Kyle Shanahan with the San Francisco 49ers, spending 2022 as the passing game coordinator and helping orchestrate the unit's success despite starting three different players - Trey Lance, Jimmy Garoppolo and Brock Purdy.
Last spring, Slowik followed DeMeco Ryans from San Francisco to Houston, where he oversaw the development of rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, the favorite for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Slowik inherited an offense that ranked 31st in yards and 30th in both points and giveaways. In just one year with Slowik as offensive coordinator, the Texans improved to No. 12, No. 13 and No. 1 in those three categories, respectively.
Houston's rushing offense ranked No. 20 in attempts and No. 22 in yards, a stark contrast from Atlanta's, which ranked No. 3 and No. 9 this season, respectively.
But under Slowik and Stroud, the Texans' offense finished No. 12 in pass attempts and touchdowns, No. 7 in passing yards and No. 2 in interceptions.
Rookie quarterbacks often come with the risk of being turnover-prone. Stroud threw 12 interceptions in 25 college starts. He threw only five in his 19 starts during his rookie campaign.
Slowik's offense proved risk-averse and well-suited to Stroud, who was filled with praise when asked about Slowik's impact on him this season.
"When I came in, I knew he was going to push me hard," Stroud said. "He held me at a standard all year. Held me accountable. A lot of times when you’re playing good ball, guys kind of let you do what you do and leave you alone.
"Bobby was always on me about the little details in my position and I appreciated that because you don’t always get that."
Slowik is the son of 10-year NFL defensive coordinator Bob Slowik, who last held the role with the Denver Broncos in 2008. He has two brothers currently working in the NFL - David, the Miami Dolphins' outside linebackers coach, and Steve, an area scout for the 49ers.
Unsurprisingly, Slowik brings a playing background, earning all-conference honors as a receiver at Michigan Tech University in 2008.
He started his coaching career as a video assistant with the Washington Commanders in 2010 and helped in the coaching staff department's operations through 2013.
From 2014 to 2016, Slowik was out of coaching, serving as analyst at Pro Football Focus. He returned to San Francisco in 2017 as a defensive quality control assistant.
In essence, he's worked on both sides of the ball - and has tasted life out of the league. It gives him a unique perspective ... and resulted in a strong relationship with Stroud.
"He was always just hard on me, but also showed me a lot of love – a ton of love," Stroud said. "Very knowledgeable, can really dice a defense up. Puts a lot of trust in his players and really just never got away from what he knows.
"Of course, tailored his coaching to what was here at the Texans, but he did what was at the core of his heart and I could appreciate that."
The Falcons aren't the only team pursuing Slowik, who interviewed virtually with the Commanders, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers.
The Titans have already hired their next head coach, agreeing to terms with Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, but were said to be impressed by Slowik, who was "well-prepared (and) thorough," per Houston's KPRC. It's not difficult to see other teams having similar experiences.
Slowik met in person with the Commanders on Tuesday, and he worked with Washington's new general manager, Adam Peters, in San Francisco.
Further, several other candidates fit a similar bill with Atlanta's brass, as Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and defensive line coach and associate head coach Anthony Weaver Jr. also interviewed well, as did Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.
The Falcons will have second interviews with each of those four candidates, all coming in person. The interviews with Detroit's coordinators are scheduled for next week, which means Atlanta's search may be delayed.
There are other candidates still in play, as recently fired New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has already completed a second interview with the Falcons, and a pair of defensive coordinators - the Panthers' Ejiro Evero and Los Angeles Rams' Raheem Morris - will meet with Atlanta for a second time this week.
The Falcons are scheduled to interview recently fired Titans head coach Mike Vrabel in person on Wednesday, the first meeting between the two sides.
Still, Slowik's stock is rising in Atlanta - and as the process continues, he appears to be a name to circle as a favorite for the vacancy.
