Coach Search

It took less than three weeks for the Atlanta Falcons to replace their head coach, Arthur Smith, with a new one, Raheem Morris. The team would interview fourteen candidates, four of whom would be called back for a second meeting. This is a rundown of the events leading to the selection of the Falcons’ 19th franchise head coach.

January 8: Falcons fire head coach Arthur Smith after team goes 7-10 for 3rd consecutive season.

January 9: Team owner Arthur Blank says the team will conduct a thorough search for the next head coach.

January 12: The Falcons complete first of 14 head coach interviews: Baltimore Ravens defensive coach Mike MacDonald.

January 13: Falcons complete interview with Cincinnati Bengals offensive coach Brian Callahan.

Falcons complete interview with San Francisco 49er defensive coordinator Steve Willks.

January 14: Falcons request interview with Antonio Pierce, Las Vegas Raiders interim head coach, who would later be promoted to fulltime head coach for that team.

Falcons interview Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.

Falcons interview Ravens assistant head coach/def. line Anthony Weaver.

January 15: Falcons interview former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.

January 16: Falcons interview Michigan University head coach Jim Harbaugh.

January 18: Falcons interview Belichick for a second time.

Falcons interview Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson.

January 19: Falcons request interview with Buffalo Bills interim offensive coordinator Joe Brady.

Falcons interview interim Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.

Falcons request second interview with Harbaugh. He would accept head coaching position with L. A. Chargers.

Falcons request interview with Tennessee Titans Mike Vrabel

Falcons complete second interview with Belichick.

January 20: Falcons interview L. A. Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris.

Falcons interview Brady

January 21: Falcons request second interview with Callahan. He later accepts head coach position with Titans.

Falcons interview Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.

Falcons interview Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.

Falcons request second interview with Evero.

January 22: Falcons request second interview with Morris.

Falcons request second interviews with MacDonald, Weaver.

January 23: Falcons request second interviews with Slowik, Johnson and Glenn.

Falcons complete second interview with Morris.

January 24: Falcons complete second interview with Evero.

Falcons complete interview with Vrabel.

January 25: Falcons complete second interview with Slowik.

👉Falcons officially select Raheem Morris as the team’s new head coach.

This rundown was based on a running Coach Search update of interviews of Falcons head coach candidates from January 8-25th. Data based on published reports from media and the Atlanta Falcons.  Some details were edited for clarity.