Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Todd Bowles completed his virtual interview for the head coaching position with the Falcons on Monday.
Under Bowles in 2020, the Bucs were first (80.6 yards per game) in defending the rush, 21st against the pass (246.6), sixth (327.1) total yards per game and eighth in scoring (22.2 points per game).
In the 31-23 win over the Washington Football Team in the playoffs, Bowles’ defense held the Rams running backs to 36 yards on 16 carries.
Bowles, a former NFL player who started his coaching career in Atlanta at Morehouse, was the Jets head coach from 2015 to 2018 and posted a record of 26-41.
Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, is the only coach linked to the Falcons, who has not been interviewed.
In addition to Bowles, the Falcons have completed virtual head coach interviews with six other candidates:
- Atlanta Falcons’ interim head coach Raheem Morris
- Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy
- San Francisco 49ers’ defensive coordinator Robert Saleh
- Carolina Panthers’ offensive coordinator Joe Brady
- Green Bay Packers’ offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett
- Tennessee Titans’ offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
Beginning on Jan. 4, clubs could begin conducting in-person interviews for head coach and general manager positions with candidates who are not current NFL team employees or whose club is not participating in the postseason.
Virtual interviews for head coach positions could begin with coaches whose clubs had a bye in the first week of the playoffs, and were allowed to continue through the conclusion of wild card games on Jan. 10.
Falcons’ 2021 draft position
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
2. New York Jets
3. Miami Dolphins (via Houston)
4. Falcons
5. Cincinnati Bengals
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