Falcons Request HC Interview With Mike Macdonald

We can add another team to the list of suitors for Mike Macdonald. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Falcons have requested permission to interview the Ravens defensive coordinator for their head coaching vacancy.

[RELATED: 2024 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker]

After not generating any head coaching interest last offseason, Macdonald has turned into one of the most popular names this time around. As our Head Coaching Search Tracker shows, the Falcons join the Titans, Commanders, Panthers, and Chargers as the teams that are currently pursuing Macdonald.

The second-year Ravens DC helped guide one the NFL’s top defenses this season, with Baltimore finishing the season as the top-scoring defense. Macdonald also got praise for his handling on the edge. Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy both caught on late with the Ravens, but the veteran duo still managed to finish the year with 18.5 sacks.

Macdonald joins a growing list of candidates for the open gig in Atlanta:

• Bill Belichick, former head coach (Patriots): Team showing strong interest?
• Brian Callahan, offensive coordinator (Bengals): Interview requested
• Ejiro Evero, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Interview requested
• Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interview requested
• Jim Harbaugh, head coach (Michigan): Rumored candidate
• Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Interview requested
• Raheem Morris, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interview requested
• Bobby Slowik, offensive coordinator (Texans): Interview requested
• Anthony Weaver, defensive line coach (Ravens): Interview requested
• Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (49ers): Interview requested

Despite the lack of a head coach, the Falcons are holding on to one of their coordinators. According to ESPN’s Michael Rothstein, the Falcons blocked defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen from interviewing for the Jaguars defensive coordinator gig. After spending the 2022 campaign as the Saints DC, Nielsen took on the same role in Atlanta for the 2023 campaign. The Falcons defense ended up having a bounce-back season, finishing 11th in the NFL in yards allowed.