While the NFL playoffs begin Saturday, the Atlanta Falcons will be interviewing numerous candidates for their coaching job, hoping in 2024 they’ll be able to return to the postseason for the first time since 2017.
According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Arthur Blank and the Falcons are interviewing Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan Saturday afternoon, and then will shift to San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks today evening.
Callahan has been the offensive coordinator for the Bengals since Zac Taylor became the coach in 2019. While Taylor and Callahan have had terrific talent to work with in the likes of quarterback Joe Burrow, running back Joe Mixon and receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, it’s impossible not to be impressed with the job they have done transforming the culture in that club.
The 39-year-old Callahan was part of a staff that helped the Bengals to finish with a winning record in 2023, despite Jake Browning take over as quarterback in mid-November when the aforementioned Burrow sustained a season-ending wrist injury. Meanwhile, Wilks is in his first year as defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, working under former Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. Wilks was previously the coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2018, but was sacked following a 3-13 season where he allegedly wasn’t given a fair chance to prove what type of culture he could build over the long-term.
The Carolina Panthers went 6-6 with Wilks as their interim coach in 2022, quite the improvement after a 1-4 start under Matt Rhule. Owner David Tepper chose to seek a coach with an offensive background — Frank Reich was eventually hired — rather than handing Wilks the job on a full-time basis. Since the Bengals just missed the playoffs, Callahan is free to interview whenever, and, in theory, may be hired at any point after the Rooney Rule is satisfied.
Wilks is allowed to interview Saturday given the 49ers have a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs. Atlanta would need to wait until after San Francisco’s postseason run ended if they wanted to employ Wilks as their next coach. Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald became the first candidate to interview for the job Friday.
The Falcons reportedly have also requested to interview Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and Ravens assistant head coach/defensive line coach Anthony Weaver.
