The Atlanta Falcons interviewed former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick for the second time on Friday as owner Arthur Blank continues his search to replace Arthur Smith, who was fired after the team finished with a 7-10 record in all three of his seasons.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that the team wants to schedule a second interview with Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh. CBS NFL insider Jonathan Jones reported that the Falcons plan on interviewing former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel next week.
Who Has Interviewed for the Atlanta Falcons’ Head Coach Opening?
Atlanta has interviewed nine people for its head coaching opening since the regular season ended. Belichick is the only candidate we know who has interviewed with the team twice.
Along with Belichick and Harbaugh, the Falcons have interviewed seven current NFL assistant coaches. Five of the seven assistants are from this year’s playoff teams.
MORE: 2024 NFL Head Coach Interview Tracker
- Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald
- Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan
- 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks
- Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero
- Ravens assistant head coach/defensive line Anthony Weaver
- Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson
- Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn
Atlanta is being open with its fans and the media about who is interviewing for the job through social media posts.
We have interviewed Bill Belichick for our head coach opening
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) January 16, 2024
Who Will Be the Next Falcons Head Coach?
Jones reported on CBS Sports that Blank wants Belichick to be the head coach and Belichick will get the job if he wants it. A source told Jones that it is “50/50 right now that he takes the job.”
This would be Belichick’s fourth NFL head coaching job, even though he never coached a game for the New York Jets. In his first job as head coach, Belichick went 36-44 with one playoff appearance with the Cleveland Browns. Belichick led the Patriots to the Super Bowl nine times in 24 seasons, winning six titles.
Harbaugh also interviewed with the Los Angeles Chargers for their head coaching job earlier in the week. He is considered by many to be one of the top candidates for the Chargers opening.
Harbaugh is coming off a controversy-filled season at Michigan that saw him be suspended twice but ended with a College Football Playoff National Championship. He was 44-19-1 with one Super Bowl appearance as the San Francisco 49ers head coach from 2011 to 2014.
Vrabel had a 54-55 record with three playoff appearances in six seasons as the Titans head coach. He was fired after the team lost 18 of its last 24 games with him as head coach.
Steve Wilks is the only assistant coach the Falcons have interviewed with previous head coaching experience. He went 3-13 in 2018 as the Arizona Cardinals head coach and had a 6-6 record in 2022 as the Carolina Panthers interim head coach.
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