Falcons title Ryan Nielsen the subsequent defensive coordinator in Atlanta

The Falcons have named former Saints co-defensive coordinator and defensive position coach Ryan Nielsen as the subsequent defensive coordinator in Atlanta, the staff introduced on Friday.

The Falcons interviewed Nielsen on Tuesday, in accordance with a report by NFL Community’s Mike Garafolo. Nielsen has been with the Saints group for the reason that 2017 season.

Nielsen bought his teaching begin on the faculty stage. He spent two seasons at Northern Illinois and 4 seasons because the defensive position coach, recruiting coordinator and run recreation coordinator at North Carolina State. Nielsen left the faculty ranks to hitch the Saints teaching workers as their defensive position coach, a place he has held since 2017. It was there that Nielsen met Falcons basic supervisor Terry Fontenot, who spent 18 seasons within the Saints entrance workplace.

The Saints defensive entrance has been one of many league’s finest for the final decade. Since Nielsen joined the Saints workers in 2017, New Orleans has recorded 281 sacks – that is the second most within the NFL over that span – and completed within the prime 10 in sacks in 5 of the final six seasons.

Additionally, throughout Nielsen’s time in New Orleans from 2017 to 2020, the Saints put collectively 55 common season and postseason video games with out permitting a 100-yard rusher.

In different information, the Falcons have reportedly parted methods with defensive position coach Gary Emanuel, outdoors linebackers coach Ted Monachino and secondary coach Jon Hoke.