Dan Quinn coached the Falcons to Super Bowl 51 after the 2016 NFL season. Le s than four years later, Devante Doutrive Jersey after two mi sed playoff seasons at 7-9 and an 0-5start in 2020, Quinn's tenure in Atlanta is over. The team on Sunday night after a lo s to the Panthers.

Quinn took over for Mike Smith, who went 66-46 with four playoff trips over seven seasons.Quinn was 43-42 in five-plus seasons, with one NFC South title and one wild-card berth.

Although Falcons owner Arthur Blank did not appear to be someone who likes to fire his coachin midseason, he made another change after the Falcons fell to a division rival on top of turning almost certain victories into sure defeats against the Cowboys and the Bears the previous two weeks. The Falcons liked playing for Quinn, but in a bottom-line busine s, unfortunately,the results weren' Lamonte Turner Jersey tthere, especially on defense for the defensive-minded Quinn.

With the Texans in the market for a new coach and the Jets andLionsamong thefranchises that also might look to make changes for 2021, the Lamar Johnson Jersey Falcons will have stiff competition for top candidates in the offseason.Here's our ranking of their best potential replacements for Quinn:

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1. Eric Bieniemy, Chiefs offensive coordinator

Bieniemy, 51, is waiting patiently for his first head-coaching gig as the latest top protegeof Andy Reid. The Chiefs'Super Bowl 54 run may have taken him out of the mix for some teams who couldn't wait. Given his work with Patrick Mahomes, he is overdue for a shot. The Falcons could consider either Robert Martin Jersey offense or defense as the speciality of their next head coach, as they need to play better complementary football, period.

2. Joe Woods, Browns defensive coordinator

Woods, 50, did great work on the 49ers' staff under former Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan before being Sherman Douglas Jersey elevated in Cleveland, where his influence already has been seen in the run defense and pa s rush. He brings a good combination of experience and energy. He can bring a fresh perspective to the defense and also knows how important a run-effective offense is.

 

3. Robert Saleh, 49ers defensive coordinator

Saleh, 41, continues to have a lot of outside appeal. He is ripe to Robert Griffin III Jersey be plucked from Shanahan's staff and use his pep and motivational skills to pump up an entire team. He has the likeability of Quinn and has some of the same defensive scheme sensibilities, so he would appeal to the players in that sense of the transition.

4. Byron Leftwich, Buccaneers offensive coordinator

The former Marshall quarterback and Jaguars first-rounder has found a great second NFL career at 40. He's learned well under Bruce Arians and is now being influenced by the GOAT, Tom Brady. He's got youth on his side and can have a great influence on Matt Ryan in maximizing Marques Bolden Jersey his elite 11 personnel of Juilo Jones, Calvin Ridley and Ru sell Gage.

5. Matt Eberflus, Colts defensive coordinator

Eberflus, 50, keeps raising his game working under Frank Reich; his unit is the big reason why the team is 3-2. He is another coach like Woods with a lot of college and NFL experience as a motivator and tactician. HIs intensity would be welcomedin Atlanta, especially for the defense.

 

6. Kevin O'Connell, Rams offensive coordinator

Insert "How is he connected to Sean McVay?" hotshot young coaching candidate semi-joke here. O'Connell is only 35 but he has some Matt LaFleur/Zac Taylor potential in taking over another team. He is DeShone Kizer Jersey very organized and experienced and his time bouncing around as an NFL QB inmultiple offenses can be good for Ryan.

7. Patrick Graham, Giants defensive coordinator

Here's how the Falcons can bark up the Bill Belichick tree. Graham, a 41-year-old Yale product, has turned his several years in New England into strong gigs with the Packers, Dolphins and now Giants again. He is doing a great job with their big defensive changes, even with somekey holes. Graham's smarts and winning Wyatt Battaile Jersey experience can't be denied.

8. Joe Brady, Panthers offensive coordinator

Brady cut his teeth as a Saintsoffensive a sistant under Sean Payton before getting the best collegiate QB season ever out of Joe Burrow at LSU. He's off to a hot start in Carolina, showing he can coach Robert Cartwright Jersey Teddy Bridgewater to good things even without Christian McCaffrey. The Falcons should at least consider the 31-year-old who has been making noise elsewhere in the division. They could see him as another Shanahan, for sure.