3 coordinators among new hires for coaching staff

Falcons coach Arthur Smith is starting to fill out his coaching staff. Dean Pees (defensive coordinator) Dave Ragone (offensive coordinator) and Marquice Williams (special teams coordinator) were hired Thursday, and the Falcons retained wide receivers coach Dave Brock.

Pees, 71, was a defensive coordinator with the Patriots (200609), Ravens (2012-17) and Titans (2018-19) and is coming out of retirement to join the Falcons. He was on Super Bowl teams with the Patriots (2004 season) and Ravens (2012 season). In 10 of his 12 seasons as a defensive coordinator, Pees’ defenses ranked in the top 12.

He was the head coach at Kent State from 1998-2003 and posted a 17-51 record.

Smith said he didn’t want to be pigeon-holed into the 4-3 or 3-4 defense, but Pees has used the 3-4. The Falcons have played a 4-3 base defense under their past four coaches.

“We want to be adaptable,” Smith said. “That will be a big thing here. We will play to the strengths of our team, but we want to be flexible and adaptable.”

Ragone was the Bears’ passgame coordinator. A former thirdround pick who played quarterback at Louisville, Ragone was with Smith in Tennessee in 201113. Smith has said he will call his own plays.

Ragone spent the past five seasons with the Bears, the first four as quarterbacks coach. Before that he spent the 2015 season with Washington.

Panthers wide receivers coach Frisman Jackson also interviewed for offensive coordinator. Under the revised Rooney Rule, minority candidates also must be interviewed for coordinator-level positions.

Williams spent the past two seasons with the Detroit Lions, where he was assistant special teams coach. He also coached for three seasons on the Chargers’ staff.

Brock completed his fourth season with the Falcons in 2020. He coached wide receivers in 2018 and 2020, running backs in 2019 and was an offensive assistant in 2017.

Charles London, who has been running backs coach for the Bears, is set to be named quarterbacks coach, according to NFL Media.

AP Then-titans defensive coordinator Dean Pees instructs players on June 12, 2019, in Nashville. Pees, who didn’t coach in the NFL this season, is coming out of retirement to guide the Falcons’ defense.