Report: Falcons DC Ryan Nielsen Expected to Interview With Jaguars

According to Bruce Feldman, the Jaguars are expected to talk to the coordinator they were once blocked from speaking with.

After the Jacksonville Jaguars were initially blocked from speaking with Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen for their own coordinator vacancy, it appears the Jaguars will now get that interview. 

According to The Athletic's Bruce Feldman, Nielsen is now expected to interview with the Jaguars for their defensive coordinator opening. 

SOURCE: Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen is expected to interview for the Jaguars DC job. Nielsen made a big impact in his 1st season, improving the Falcons from 26th to 7th in YPP allowed; from 31st in the NFL to 3rd in 3rd down D; and from 25th to 8th in pass defense.

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 17, 2024

Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports also reported on Wednesday that the Falcons have lifted their restrictions on assistant coaches from interviewing for other jobs. This comes on the heels of the Falcons interviewing Bill Belichick, Jim Harbaugh, Mike Macdonald, Steve Wilks, Brian Callahan, Anthony Weaver, and Ejiro Evero.

Last week the Falcons had blocked multiple coaches from interviewing for lateral positions with other teams, sources say. This week, many of those restrictions on coaches have been lifted in Atlanta.

— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) January 17, 2024

Nielsen is likely set to be one of the hottest coordinator names on the market once the dust settles during the hiring cycle. Nielsen, 44, just finished his first year with the Falcons as defensive coordinator, with the Falcons finishing No. 18 in points allowed, No. 12 in EPA/Play, No. 5 in success rate, and No. 1 in rushing EPA/Play.

Nielsen has been in the NFL since 2017, when the New Orleans Saints hired him from NC State. After four years as the Saints' defensive line coach, Nielsen was promoted to assistant head coach in 2021 and then co-defensive coordinator in 2022. Nielsen was also looked at by LSU as a defensive coordinator candidate in 2021.

The Jaguars are looking for a new defensive coordinator after firing former coordinator Mike Caldwell on Monday night. The Jaguars also fired seven other defensive assistants, leaving only three of Pederson's 11 defensive staff members left.