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Falcons have talked with six in search for defensive coordinator

AP file photo by Scot Tucker / Steve Wilks is one of six candidates the Atlanta Falcons have interviewed as they seek to fill a vacancy at defensive coordinator.
AP file photo by Scot Tucker / Steve Wilks is one of six candidates the Atlanta Falcons have interviewed as they seek to fill a vacancy at defensive coordinator. AP file photo by Scot Tucker / Steve Wilks is one of six candidates the Atlanta Falcons have interviewed as they seek to fill a vacancy at defensive coordinator.

By The Associated Press 2 min read

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons announced Friday they have interviewed former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks and Pittsburgh Steelers secondary coach Grady Brown as the team continued its search for a defensive coordinator.

Brown has coached defensive backs in Pittsburgh for four years.

Wilks led San Francsico’s defense in 2023, a year after he was a defensive assistant and then interim head coach with the Carolina Panthers, who compete in the same NFC South Division as Atlanta. Wilks also was head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 before one year as defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns. He held the same position at the University of Missouri in 2021.

The Falcons have announced interviews with six candidates.

Green Bay Packers passing game coordinator Derrick Ansley and former Cincinnati Bengals assistant Lou Anarumo interviewed on Thursday. The Falcons spoke with New York Jets interim coach and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich on Wednesday, a day after talking with University of Michigan defensive coordinator Wink Martindale.