The Atlanta Falcons are actively searching for the 19th head coach in franchise history. The organization parted ways with Arthur Smith at midnight after the final game of the 2023 season on Jan. 8. Falcons leadership immediately began looking for his replacement. We'll document that process extensively in this Falcons head coach tracker.
The Falcons have said they will announce interviews after they are completed with each candidate. We'll provide those updates right here. In addition to official interview announcements, there also aggregated reports of interview requests**, as it states regarding the relevant candidates listed below.
The NFL has specific rules for how and when teams can conduct these interviews, and they are outlined here.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank said the Falcons will be thorough and patient finding the right individual for the head coaching job, with the aim of getting the hire right and setting the franchise up for a period of sustained success.
"There is no timetable," Blank said. "The only timetable is to do this correctly."
Let this be your location for everything you need to know about the Falcons' search for a new head coach.
RAHEEM MORRIS
OFFICIAL (Jan. 25) : Falcons named Raheem Morris their next head coach.
News story: Falcons named Raheem Morris next head coach
Falcons official statement: Statement Arthur Blank, Terry Fontenot on Raheem Morris
Instant analysis: Why Raheem Morris fits with the Falcons
For more: Get to know (more) about Raheem Morris
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Initial interview date: Saturday, Jan. 20
Analysis: Learn more about Rams defensive coordinator, former Falcons interim head coach Raheem Morris
Second interview date: Tuesday, Jan. 23
Current job: Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator
Resume highlights:
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2002-05: Morris held positions as the defensive quality control coach before being promoted to a defensive assistant. He was later the assistant defensive backs coach.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2007-11 (second stint): Morris was hired as the defensive backs coach before being promoted to head coach in 2009. He maintained that top position until 2011.
- Atlanta Falcons, 2015-19: Morris held the position of assistant head coach and pass game coordinator before being moved to wide receivers coach from 2016-2019. Morris was then promoted to defensive coordinator in 2020. He was the interim head coach for the final 11 games of 2020.
- Los Angeles Rams, 2021-23: Morris is L.A.'s defensive coordinator. The Rams won Super Bowl LVI in February 2022.
BOBBY SLOWIK
Initial interview date: Sunday, Jan. 21
Second interview date: Thursday, Jan. 25
Current job: Houston Texans offensive coordinator
Resume highlights:
- Washington Commanders, 2010-13: Slowik started as the video assistant and moved up to defensive assistant coach a season later for the rest for his tenure there.
- San Francisco 49ers, 2017-21: He first served as the defensive quality coach before moving over to offensive assistant coach two seasons later. Slowik also held offensive passing game specialist and offensive passing game coordinator titles in the next two seasons, respectively.
- Houston Texans, 2023: Slowik is currently in his first season as the offensive coordinator.
MIKE VRABEL
Interview announcement: Wednesday, Jan. 24
Former job: Tennessee Titans head coach
Resume highlights:
- Ohio State University, 2011-13: Vrabel's first coaching job came with the Buckeyes, who named him linebackers coach in 2011 after a stellar NFL playing career. He was Ohio State's defensive line coach for the next two seasons.
- Houston Texans, 2014-17: He first joined an NFL staff for the first time after being named Texans linebackers coach, a job he executed from 2014-16. He was promoted to defensive coordinator for the next season.
- Tennessee Titans, 2018-23: Vrabel was head coach of the Titans for six seasons and led them to the playoffs three times. He took Tennessee to the AFC title game in 2019. He parted ways with the Titans after a 6-11 season in 2023.
Analysis: What you need to know about Mike Vrabel
JIM HARBAUGH
NOTE (Jan. 24): The Los Angeles Chargers are reportedly moving to hire Harbaugh as their official head coach. This was reported by ***NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.***
REPORT (Jan. 19): Falcons are scheduling a second interview with Harbaugh for next week, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero
Interview announcement: Tuesday, Jan. 16
Current job: University of Michigan head coach
Resume highlights:
- Harbaugh has spent the past nine years (2015-23) as head coach at the University of Michigan, leading the Wolverines to a College Football Playoff National Championship in 2024. Prior to Michigan, Harbaugh spent four seasons (2011-14) as head coach for the San Francisco 49ers.
EJIRO EVERO
Initial interview date: Sunday, Jan. 14
Analysis: What you need to know about Ejiro Evero
Second interview date:Wednesday, Jan. 24
Current job: Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator
Resume highlights:
- Los Angeles Rams, 2017-21: Evero served as the safeties coach for four seasons then moved to defensive passing game coordinator/secondary coach in the Super Bowl-winning 2021 season.
- Denver Broncos, 2022: Evero was promoted to defensive coordinator.
- Carolina Panthers, 2023: Evero maintained the role of defensive coordinator.
AARON GLENN
REPORT (Jan. 23): The Falcons are expected to send a contingent to Detroit to conduct a second interview with Glenn, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
Interview date: Friday, Jan. 19
Current job: Detroit Lions defensive coordinator
Resume highlights:
- Cleveland Browns, 2014-15: Glenn worked as the assistant defensive back coach.
- New Orleans Saints, 2016-20: He spent all five seasons as the defensive backs coach.
- Detroit Lions, 2021-23: Glenn has been the defensive coordinator ever since he arrived.
Analysis: What you need to know about Aaron Glenn
BEN JOHNSON
REPORT (Jan. 23): The Falcons are expected to send a contingent to Detroit to conduct a second interview with Johnson, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
Interview date: Sunday, Jan. 21
Current job: Detroit Lions offensive coordinator
Resume highlights:
- Boston College, 2009-11: Johnson served as a graduate assistant for two years before earning the role of tight ends coach.
- Miami Dolphins, 2012-18: He started as an offensive assistant, then transitioned into the assistant quarterbacks coach in 2012. Johnson added tight ends to his responsibility in 2015. He moved to assistant wide receivers coach from 2016-17 before being promoted to the wide receivers coach in 2018.
- Detroit Lions, 2019-23: Johnson began as the offensive quality control coach but switched to tight ends in his second season. He became the offensive coordinator in 2022, where he remained this past season.
BRIAN CALLAHAN
NOTE (Jan. 22): Callahan has reportedly agreed to be the Tennessee Titans official head coach. This was reported by NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and ESPN's Adam Schefter.
REPORT (Jan. 21): Falcons plan to bring Callahan in for a second interview, per Peliserro
Interview date: Saturday, Jan. 13
Current job: Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator
Resume highlights:
- Denver Broncos, 2010-15: Callahan got his start as a coaching assistant. Within a year, he landed the role in offensive quality control. In 2013, he became an offensive assistant and remained as such through 2015.
- Detroit Lions, 2016-17: He was hired as the quarterbacks coach and never changed.
- Oakland Raiders: He was quarterbacks coach during his only season with the Silver and Black.
- Cincinnati Bengals, 2019-23: Callahan joined as the offensive coordinator and still is.
ANTHONY WEAVER
REPORT (Jan. 22): Falcons requested a second interview with Weaver, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport
Interview date: Sunday, Jan. 14
Current job: Baltimore Ravens assistant head coach/defensive line
Resume highlights:
- Cleveland Browns, 2014-15: Weaver served as defensive line coach for two seasons.
- Houston Texans, 2016-20: He spent four seasons as the defensive line coach before moving up to defensive coordinator in 2020.
- Baltimore Ravens, 2021-23: Weaver started as defensive line/defensive run game coordinator and became the Ravens assistant head coach/defensive line a season later, the position that he currently holds.
MIKE MACDONALD
REPORT (Jan. 22): Falcons requested a second interview with Macdonald, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport
Interview date: Friday, Jan. 12
Current job: Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator
Resume highlights:
- Baltimore Ravens, 2014-20: He gained his first NFL gig as an intern. After a year in the role, he was promoted to defensive assistant for two seasons. In 2022, Macdonald worked as the defensive backs coach before moving to coach the linebackers for his final three seasons.
- University of Michigan, 2021: Macdonald returned to the college ranks for a season as a defensive coordinator.
- Baltimore Ravens, 2022-23 (second stint): He went back to the Ravens as a defensive coordinator, a role he has maintained since.
JOE BRADY
Interview date: Saturday, Jan. 20
Current job: Buffalo Bills interim offensive coordinator
Resume highlights:
- LSU, 2019: Brady spent a season at LSU as the passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach in the year the Tigers won a national title.
- Carolina Panthers, 2020-21: He returned to the NFL to work as the Panthers offensive coordinator for two seasons.
- Buffalo Bills, 2022-23: He joined the Bills as the quarterbacks coach and became the interim offensive coordinator in the current 2023 season, though he still coaches QBs.
BILL BELICHICK
Initial interview announcement: Monday, Jan. 15
Second interview announcement: Friday, Jan. 19
Former job: New England Patriots head coach
Resume highlights:
- Spent the past 24 seasons as head coach of the New England Patriots where he led the Patriots to 17 division titles and six Super Bowl championships.
BRIAN JOHNSON
Interview date: Thursday, Jan. 18
Current job: Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator
Resume highlights:
- University of Houston, 2017: Johnson spent a season as the school's offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach.
- University of Florida, 2018-20: Johnson went on to serve as the quarterbacks coach for two seasons before he added offensive coordinator responsibilities to his final season.
- Philadelphia Eagles, 2021-23: Johnson moved to the NFL level and started as the quarterbacks coach for two seasons before he was promoted to offensive coordinator.
ANTONIO PIERCE
NOTE (Jan. 19): Pierce has reportedly agreed to a deal to remain with the Las Vegas Raiders as their official head coach. This was reported by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Report of interview request (Jan. 14): NFL Network's Mike Garafolo
Current job: Las Vegas Raiders interim head coach
Resume highlights:
- Long Beach Poly High School, 2014-17: Pierce began his coaching career at the high school level as a head coach.
- Arizona State University, 2018-21: Pierce then moved up to the college ranks, spending two seasons as the linebackers coach/recruiting coordinator before making the jump to defensive coordinator/assistant head coach in addition to his linebackers/recruiting coordinator role. He nixed the linebackers role in his final season.
- Las Vegas Raiders, 2022-23: Pierce started off his NFL tenure as a linebackers coach. He kept that responsibility this past season before being named interim head coach on Nov. 1, 2023, after Josh McDaniels was fired. The Raiders went 5-4 with Pierce at the helm.
STEVE WILKS
Interview date: Saturday, Jan. 13
Current job: San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator
Resume highlights:
- Carolina Panthers, 2012-17: Wilks held positions as the defensive backs coach (2012-14), assistant head coach and defensive backs coach (2015-16) and assistant head coach and defensive coordinator (2017).
- Arizona Cardinals, 2018: Wilks was named head coach in January 2018.
- Carolina Panthers, 2022 (second stint): Wilks began the season as the defensive pass game coordinator and secondary coach before spending the final six games of the season as the interim head coach.
Analysis: What you need to know about Steve Wilks
**Editor's note: The Falcons editorial staff is independently aggregating reports of Falcons interview requests from select reporters, without confirmation from the team. The full list of reporters: Adam Schefter (ESPN), Jeremy Fowler (ESPN), Dan Graziano (ESPN), Chris Mortensen, Ian Rapoport (NFL Network), Tom Pelissero (NFL Network), Mike Garafolo (NFL Network), Jonathan Jones (CBS), Jay Glazer (FOX), Dianna Russini (The Athletic), Jeff Howe (The Athletic), Albert Breer (Sports Illustrated), Mark Maske (Washington Post).
