FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – The Falcons have made three additions to their coaching staff in running backs coach Bernie Parmalee, offensive assistant Chad Walker and assistant special teams coach Mayur Chaudhari.
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Parmalee joins the staff after serving as the Oakland Raiders running backs coach from 2015-17, helping the Raiders average 120.1 rushing yards per game in 2016, the sixth-most in the NFL
The former NFL running back played for both the Miami Dolphins (1992-98) and the New York Jets (1999-2000), ending his career with 2,179 rushing yards, 1,485 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns.
Prior to his time as Oakland's running backs coach, Parmalee spent time as the tight ends coach in Kansas City (2010-12). He began his coaching career in Miami as a special teams and tight ends coach (2002-04).
Parmalee takes over a running backs room that features the duo of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman who have combined for 6,631 total yards and 55 touchdowns in their three seasons together.
Walker returns to the Falcons staff in a different role.
After spending the past year as the outside linebackers coach at the University of Arkansas, Walker will be switching to the other side of the ball, as he will now serve as an offensive assistant.
In his first stint with the Falcons (2015-16), Walker spent one season as the assistant defensive backs coach and one as the assistant linebackers coach. Before his first gig in Atlanta, Walker had stops at LSU (defensive assistant), Miami Dolphins (defensive quality control), Bryant University (defensive coordinator, defensive backs), Mississippi College (defensive coordinator, defensive backs coach) and Oklahoma (defensive quality control).
Chaudhari joins the Falcons after recently serving as the special teams coordinator at the University of Hawaii. Chaudhari has a wealth of collegiate experience dating back to 1998 with time spent at the following universities: UC Davis (linebackers, tight ends, running backs), Stanford (secondary), San Jose State (special teams, safeties, assistant linebackers), VMI (safeties/nickels), Army West Point (safeties), Lenoir-Rhyne (special teams coordinator, secondary).
With these three additions, head coach Dan Quinn is close to finalizing his coaching staff for the 2018 season. The team also recently hired Greg Knapp to take over as quarterbacks coach.
"We are excited to be able to add Bernie, Mayur and Chad to our coaching staff," said head coach Dan Quinn. "The three men bring a lot of experience to our staff, in addition to being very knowledgeable in our schemes. With the addition of Gregg Knapp earlier, our coaching staff is taking shape as we prepare for the Combine and free agency."
