Slowik misses out on Falcons’ coaching job
Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik had his second interview with Atlanta on Thursday only to see the Falcons apparently go a different direction for their next head coach.
Just 30 minutes after Atlanta announced its interview with Slowik, the Falcons reportedly reached a deal with Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, who also had a second interview Thursday.
That leaves two job openings remaining — the Washington Commanders and the Seattle Seahawks.
Slowik has had an in-person interview with the Commanders, and the Seahawks had requested permission to speak with him. He also interviewed for the Carolina job but the Panthers hired Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Dave Canales.
Slowik was one of four candidates to complete a second interview with the Falcons, along with Morris, former Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Carolina defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.
Lions coordinators Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson and Ravens coordinators Todd Monken and Mike Macdonald, who were not eligible for second interviews this week because their teams remain in the playoffs, could emerge as candidates for Washington and Seattle as well.
Slowik, the son of a former NFL defensive coordinator, was hired to be the offensive coordinator for the Texans last February shortly after DeMeco Ryans was named head coach. The two men had worked together for six years in San Francisco.
Ryans gave Slowik full control of the offense and the play-calling. In his first season, Slowik helped transform the Texans from the 31st-ranked offense to No. 12 in terms of totals yards per game.
The Texans had one of the most explosive passing offenses in the NFL in 2023. They had the fourth-most passes of 20 yards or more and the fifthmost passing yards in the league.
Rookie quarterback C.J.
Stroud is a frontrunner for AP offensive rookie of the year.
“He held me at a standard all year,” Stroud said Monday. “Held me accountable. A lot of times when you’re playing good ball, guys, they kind of let you do what you do and leave you alone.
“Bobby was always on me about the little details in my position, and I appreciated that because you don’t always get that. He was always just hard on me, but also showed me a lot of love — a ton of love.”