ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons continued to focus on defense in their search for a new head coach Sunday, when they conducted virtual interviews with Ejiro Evero and Anthony Weaver.
Weaver has spent three seasons on the Baltimore Ravens’ staff, including the past two as assistant head coach and defensive line coach. Evero is the Carolina Panthers’ defensive coordinator after filling the same role for the Denver Broncos in 2022.
The Falcons have spoken with five candidates so far, including four defensive coaches. The team is seeking a successor to Arthur Smith, who was fired shortly after the conclusion of his third straight 7-10 record in as many seasons in Atlanta.
Smith was a former offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans before getting his first head coaching job in Atlanta, but the Falcons were underwhelming when it came to scoring points with him at the helm, despite devoting their first-round draft picks to skill positions on that side of the ball during Smith’s tenure.
The Falcons met virtually with Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan and San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks on Saturday. The Falcons also discussed the job with Baltimore defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.
Weaver was an assistant with the Houston Texans from 2016-20, including the final season as defensive coordinator. He began his NFL coaching career as an assistant defensive line coach with the New York Jets in 2012 before working for the Buffalo Bills in 2013 and the Cleveland Browns in 2014-15.
Evero coached on the Los Angeles Rams’ staff from 2017-21 after one season with the Green Bay Packers.
Beginning on Jan. 22, teams may hold in-person interviews with coaches whose teams are no longer in the playoffs.