The Falcons became the latest team to make changes on Black Monday, firing all three of their coordinators Monday afternoon.
Though Dan Quinn remains head coach, Steve Sarkisian (offense), Marquand Manuel (defense) and Keith Armstrong (special teams) are all gone.
“We know we have a group of players here we are excited about and in order for us to consistently play true to our identity in all three phases, we thought we needed some changes,” Quinn told the team website.
After two straight seasons with playoff victories, the Falcons stumbled in 2018, going 7-9 after a slew of injuries hit their defense early in the year. They finished 28th in total defense, and though the offensive numbers were better, Atlanta lacked the firepower it had in the past.
Sarkisian often drew ire from the fanbase for poor game management and red zone playcalling. Atlanta’s offense seemed to underperform in key situations with him in charge, including a playoff loss in Philadelphia last season, when the Falcons failed to convert a fourth down on the goal line to win the game.
The Falcons already seem to have their eyes set on one potential replacement for Sarkisian: Gary Kubiak.
Kubiak, a former Super Bowl-winning coach, could be interested in leaving his front-office job with the Broncos for Atlanta, per the NFL Network. Kubiak, who held the offensive coordinator job in Baltimore before winning a Super Bowl as the Broncos coach, stepped down from the job in Denver for health reasons.
He was diagnosed with a “complex migraine condition” during the 2016 season, leading him to be away from the team for a week midseason and eventually resign. He also had a “mini-stroke” in 2014 while coaching the Texans.
On the defensive side, Quinn will take up the mantle of coordinator for himself.
“I want (Falcons fans) to know that the brand of football that we are going to play is going to be fast and physical,” Quinn said. “We are going to attack in every phase that we can.”