The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
New regime not retaining Koetter
Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter was not retained after a two-year second stint with the Falcons, The Atlanta Journal-constitution learned Wednesday.
Koetter, 61, was offensive coordinator from 2019-20 and previously worked under former head coach Mike Smith from 201214. Failed rebuilds of the offensive lines were factors in Smith getting fired after the 2014 season and Dan Quinn getting fired during the 2020 season.
The offense, which was loaded with big salaries and high draft picks, did not produce as expected, as the Falcons went 7-9 and 4-12 over the past two seasons. The offense was designed to carry the team, but it could not.
In 2020, the unit amassed yards but stalled in the red zone. The Falcons ranked in the top half of the league in one key category, passing yards per game (272.7, fifth). They averaged 368.4 yards per game (18th), 95.8 rushing yards (27th), 24.8 points (16th) and converted on 53.45% of the trips inside the opposition’s 20-yard line (26th).
Koetter had a top-10 scoring offense in 2012, the first year of his first stint with the Falcons, which ended in the NFC Championship game. He also did it with Jacksonville in 2007. But Koetter’s units ranked 23rd or worse in scoring in seven other seasons as coordinator. The Falcons ranked 19th in points scored with Koetter last season.
The Falcons committed onefifth of their 2020 salary-cap space to quarterback Matt Ryan and wide receiver Julio Jones. The Falcons have former firstround picks across the offensive line, at No. 1 tight end and No.
2 wide receiver.
Before coming to the NFL, Koetter helped to turn the program at Boise State into a national power. He went on to coach at Arizona State. He entered the NFL with Jacksonville in 2007 and was their offensive coordinator until 2011 before joining the Falcons. After 2014, he went to Tampa Bay and was the offensive coordinator for one season before becoming the Bucs coach from 2016-18.
In addition to Koetter, these other coaches weren’t retained: offensive line coach Chris Morgan, one of the original members of Quinn’s coaching staff; Mayur Chaudhari (assistant special teams); Greg Knapp (quarterbacks); Tosh Lupoi (defensive line/run-game coordinator); and Chad Walker (safeties). Outside linebackers coach Aden Durde is headed to the Cowboys for a reunion with Quinn.