Falcons to Hire Packers Coach to Replace Dean Pees?

Jerry Gray is the Green Bay Packers pass game coordinator. But could he become the next Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator?

Jeremy Brener | Jan 14, 2023

The Atlanta Falcons are making progress in their search for a new defensive coordinator.

According to NFL insider Benjamin Allbright, the Falcons have requested to interview Green Bay Packers pass game coordinator Jerry Gray.

Gray, 60, worked alongside Falcons head coach Arthur Smith on the Tennessee Titans staff from 2011-13.

It was Gray's second stint as a defensive coordinator after previously fulfilling the role with the Buffalo Bills from 2001-05. In 2003 and 2004, the Bills had the second-best defense in the league.

Since working with Smith in Tennessee, Gray has worked as a defensive backs coach, first with the Minnesota Vikings from 2014-19, and then with the Packers in 2020. He also added pass game coordinator to his title in 2021.

Gray also had a successful playing career. He had a Hall of Fame career in college at the University of Texas before being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 1985. He made the Pro Bowl in four consecutive seasons from 1986-89 and played nine seasons in the league.

If the Falcons were to hire Gray, it would continue the pattern of hiring a veteran coach with ties to Smith to manage the defense and likely not see too much of a culture change from Dean Pees.

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Published Jan 14, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.