Could Falcons Prefer to Hire Ravens Coach Duo vs. Bill Belichick?
The Atlanta Falcons coaching search continues on after the firing of Arthur Smith, who failed to record a single winning season; despite being with the franchise for four years.
While many recent reports have stated that former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick is the likely favorite to land the Falcons job, that hasn't stopped the franchise from continuing to schedule interviews.
Two of those interviews were requested on Tuesday, as the Falcons are looking to meet with Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and defensive line Anthony Weaver, each for the second time. But why would the Falcons do so if they lean toward Belichick, as many would suggest?
"Atlanta folks came away from first interviews very impressed with Macdonald, Weaver, and both Detroit coordinators, which is one reason this search might go on a little longer than we originally thought," The Athletic's Josh Kendall wrote on Twitter Monday.
Current Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.
On the surface, with the Ravens amidst an incredible season that has them on the doorstep of heading to the Super Bowl as they are preparing to face the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship on Sunday, it is easy to see why the Falcons would like to speak with two of their top assistants.
The Ravens' 13-4 regular season, which was good enough to earn them the No. 1 seed in the AFC, was highlighted by their vaunted defense. Under the guidance of second-year coordinator Macdonald, the Ravens have the league's best-scoring defense, allowing just 16.1 points per game while ranking No. 13 against the run and No. 5 versus the pass.
Meanwhile, Weaver's work with the Ravens defensive line has helped them feature the NFL's most ferocious pass rush as they lead the league in sacks.
But producing good results on the field as an assistant coach will only take you so far in the NFL's hiring process. Coaches also have to be able to interview well in front of each franchise's brain trust, which may or may not include the owner and general manager. Coaches are expected to promote their own resume while selling their potential employers with a vision for success.
As suggested by Kendall's report, that is exactly what Macdonald and Weaver managed to do in their first meeting with the Falcons.
