After two straight underwhelming seasons, the Atlanta Falcons have hit the reset button, firing head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot following their regular-season finale.
In a surprising twist, the organization hired former MVP quarterback Matt Ryan to help lead the front office reshuffle, and reports suggest he may already be zeroing in on a surprise candidate to become Atlanta’s next head coach.
Falcons Rumored To Be Locking In on Former Saints OC
With a young, talent-rich offense already in place, it’s no surprise the Falcons are prioritizing offensive-minded head coaches. Atlanta recently interviewed Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, and according to NFL insider Chad Forbes, Ryan may already have his preferred choice.
“Multiple people I’ve spoken with believe Matt Ryan will hire Klint Kubiak as the next Falcons Head Coach,” Forbes wrote. “Ties to the Shanahan tree and the perfect offense for Penix. 49ers Josh Williams is seen as the favorite for GM. Waiting for Seahawks season to conclude out of respect.”
The Falcons have also completed interviews with Mike McDaniel (former Dolphins HC), John Harbaugh (former Ravens HC), Kevin Stefanski (former Browns HC), Anthony Weaver (Dolphins DC), and Aden Durde (Seahawks DC) alongside Kubiak, and even though he is one of the least experienced, it’s easy to see why he makes the most sense.
Kubiak doesn’t only come with a well-known, familiar pedigree, but he’s also found plenty of success in his past two stops in the league. He’s orchestrated high-flying offenses with the New Orleans Saints and Seahawks, even helping Sam Darnold look like an MVP candidate at one point this season.
With Kubiak at the helm, the Seahawks have averaged 28.4 points per game, the third-most in the league. They also have the seventh-most total yards per game (362.3), and rank ninth in PFSN’s Offense Impact metric.
Kubiak runs his own version of the Kyle Shanahan offense. With the Falcons most likely sticking with Michael Penix Jr. for the long run, he’d be a solid bet to help develop him and take his game to the next level.
The Falcons also have two budding stars in WR Drake London and RB Bijan Robinson, and they should prioritize re-signing TE Kyle Pitts in free agency.
Although Kubiak is drawing strong interest as one of the top head coaching candidates this cycle, the Giants have already filled their vacancy by hiring John Harbaugh, leaving the Tennessee Titans as Atlanta’s primary competition. If Ryan and owner Arthur Blank have truly zeroed in on Kubiak, the Falcons are expected to go all-in to secure him.
