Brian Flores to Falcons? Atlanta Interview Request for Coach to Steelers

The Atlanta Falcons are working to replace Dean Pees. A new coach on the Falcons’ radar is former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores.

The Atlanta Falcons are turning to a high-profile defensive coordinator with a request to interview as they seek to replace retiree Dean Pees.

The latest pinpointed guy? Former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores

According to a report from NFL insider Josina Anderson, the Falcons have submitted to the Pittsburgh Steelers a request to interview Flores, who served last season as a senior defensive assistant for Pittsburgh.

Flores has for the last two years been a notable name on the NFL Coach Carousel. Despite leading the Dolphins to back-to-back winning seasons in 2020 and 2021, Miami - amid controversy - fired Flores at the end of the 2021 season. That firing led him to file a lawsuit against the NFL and its teams, claiming racist hiring practices.

Flores is highly regarded as a motivator of players but surely has his eye on a head coaching job if possible. Nevertheless, head coach Arthur Smith is wise to take a shot here.

Meanwhile, the Falcons have requested to interview Saints defensive line coach and co-defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen for the coordinator job. Atlanta also put in a request to Denver on Ejiro Evero for the same position in Atlanta, but the Broncos - as Evero is under contract as a coordinator - opted to deny the request. The team reportedly also put in a request to interview Green Bay Packers top assistant Jerry Gray.

Get your HOTlanta Falcons game tickets from SI Tickets ... here!

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Falcons? Click Here.

Follow Falcon Report on Twitter.

Want even more Atlanta Falcons news? Check out the Si.com team page here


Published
Mike Fisher
MIKE FISHER

Mike Fisher - as a newspaper beat writer and columnist and on radio and TV, where he is an Emmy winner - has covered the NFL since 1983, is the author of two best-selling books on the NFL.