Meet Falcons' First Wave of Head Coach Interview Requests

The Atlanta Falcons have submitted requests for several head coaching candidates, including big-name coordinators such as the Detroit Lions' Ben Johnson and former head coach Steve Wilks.

The Atlanta Falcons' search for a new head coach has officially reached its next step in the aftermath of Sunday night's firing of Arthur Smith.

Atlanta has requested permission to interview seven candidates, three offensively and six defensively.

The Falcons aspire to speak with a trio of offensive coordinators in the Detroit Lions' Ben Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals' Brian Callahan and Houston Texans' Bobby Slowik.

Defensively, Atlanta's requested to interview Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Baltimore Ravens defensive line coach and associate head coach Anthony Weaver and San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.

The Falcons have also requested Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.

Johnson has been widely viewed as one of the top young offensive minds in the NFL over the past two years, helping the Lions (12-5) rank No. 3 league-wide in yards per game at 394.8 and No. 5 in points per game with 27.1.

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson watches warm up before the Dallas Cowboys game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023 :: © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

Callahan wasn't the play caller in Cincinnati, as head coach Zac Taylor handled those responsibilities. He's previously been a quarterbacks coach for the Denver Broncos (2015), Detroit Lions (2016-2017) and then-Oakland Raiders (2018).

Slowik has played a central role in the development of Texans star rookie signal caller CJ Stroud while guiding Houston's offense to No. 12 in yards per game at 342.4 yards and a tie for No. 13 in points at 22.2 per game.

Glenn's defense hasn't been quite as stout, slotting at No. 19 in yards allowed with 336.1 yards per game and No. 23 in points allowed at 23.2 points per game.

Detroit boasts the No. 2 run defense in the league, giving up a mere 88.8 yards per game, but the No. 27 pass defense, allowing 247.4 aerial yards per game.

Glenn, who played 15 years in the NFL and worked with Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot with the New Orleans Saints from 2016-2020, was recently the league's highest-graded coordinator in the NFLPA's player-based voting results.

Weaver played seven seasons in the NFL as a defensive end, starting 98 of his 103 career starts. Prior to his three-year stint in Baltimore, Weaver was the defensive line coach for the Houston Texans, Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills.

As the Ravens' defensive run game coordinator in 2021, Weaver helped Baltimore lead the league in rushing defense, allowing just 84.5 yards per game.

The Ravens topped the NFL in sacks this season with 60, led by 13 from breakout defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, who's steadily ascended under Weaver.

Wilks rose to stardom as the Carolina Panthers' defensive coordinator in 2017 before becoming the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals the following season.

His stint in Arizona lasted only one season, as the Cardinals went 3-13. Wilks rebuilt his stock in 2022, serving as the Panthers' interim head coach and going 6-6 while fostering an impressive midseason turnaround.

San Francisco's defense ranks No. 8 in total defense with 303.9 yards allowed per game, No. 14 in pass defense with 214.2 yards passing allowed per game, No. 3 in run defense with 89.7 rushing yards allowed per game and No. 3 in scoring at 17.5 points allowed.

Morris is also on the list, helping to lead the Rams back to the postseason. In 2023, Morris led the Los Angeles Rams defense to No. 19, allowing 340.3 yards per game, the No. 24 passing defense allowing 234.6 yards through the air per contest, and the No. 12 rushing defense allowing an average of 105.7 ground yards per game.

Hiring Morris would mark a return to Atlanta after he served from 2015-2019 as the assistant head coach and passing game coordinator, before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2020.

After the Falcons fired head coach Dan Quinn that season, Morris then took over as the interim head coach, leading the Falcons to a 4-7 record after Quinn started 0-5.

Evero was a candidate for Atlanta's defensive coordinator spot last offseason, serving as an ascending name in the same role with the Denver Broncos.

But Denver blocked Evero's interview with the Falcons, and he ultimately became the Carolina Panthers' defensive coordinator while Atlanta hired Ryan Nielsen.

Carolina's defense was up and down under Evero, finishing No. 4 in yards allowed per game at 293.9 yards but No. 29 in scoring at 24.5 points allowed per game.

The Panthers boasted the league's third-best passing defense, giving up only 171.5 yards per game, but ranked No. 23 in run defense at 122.4 yards per game.

Macdonald guided the Ravens to a strong defensive campaign and has emerged as one of the top coordinator candidates.

Baltimore's defense stands No. 6 in yards at 301.4 per game and is the best scoring unit in the NFL, allowing just 16.5 points a contest.

The Falcons' search is being led by owner Arthur Blank and CEO Rich McKay, while general manager Terry Fontenot will be "heavily involved," per Blank.

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There's currently no timetable for Atlanta to reach its decision.