Falcons Complete Coaching Interview With Rising Defensive Coordinator

The Atlanta Falcons interviewed one of the most well-regarded defensive coordinators in the NFL for their coaching vacancy.

While a bevy of star coaches loom over the Atlanta Falcons vacancy, Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald became the first known candidate to interview for the position Friday. 

Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald / USA Today

Macdonald completed a virtual interview with the Falcons on Jan. 12, the team confirmed. He was eligible to do so because the Ravens -- by virtue of going 13-4 and securing the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs -- have a first-round bye during Wild Card Weekend. 

The 36-year-old is is in his second stint on John Harbaugh's coaching staff in Baltimore, having previously worked in a variety of defensive roles for the Ravens from 2014-2020.

After a year working as the defensive coordinator for Jim Harbaugh at the University of Michigan, Macdonald returned to succeed Wink Martindale as DC for the Ravens in 2022. Baltimore had the No. 6 total defense in the NFL under Macdonald's guidance in 2023. 

Other names that the Falcons have reportedly put in requests to interview include San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and Ravens assistant head coach/defensive line coach Anthony Weaver. 

Of course, since he parted ways with the New England Patriots earlier this week, Bill Belichick has increasingly been speculated upon as a possible fit for the Falcons.

He's part of what's likely the greatest group of potentially available coaches ever, including the aforementioned Jim Harbaugh, Mike Vrabel and Pete Carroll. 

After going 7-10 for three consecutive seasons under Arthur Smith, Atlanta decided to make a coaching change when they were unable to win the lowly NFC South.

The names linked to the vacancy thus far have a pretty diverse group of backgrounds in the sport, so it doesn't appear owner Arthur Blank has a specific type of coach he's looking for in this search. 

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And while some teams have moved quickly this offseason in their respective searches for top executives and coaches, Blank was careful to set the expectation that the Falcons will proceed at their own pace. 

"There is no timetable," Blank said of the coaching search. "The only timetable is to do this correctly."