Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Falcons have fired OC Steve Sarkisian, DC Marquand Manuel, and Special Teams coach Keith Armstrong on Monday as they overhaul their coaching staff under Dan Quinn.
Reports have said for a few months now that major changes were likely coming to the Falcons coordinator jobs after the year was out, so this doesn’t come as a big surprise.
A potential offensive coordinator candidate for Atlanta to keep an eye on is former Seahawks OC Darrell Bevell, who has ties to Quinn from their time together in Seattle.
The expectation is that Quinn will take over the team’s defense in 2019.
Sarkisian, 44, began his coaching career at El Camino College back in 2000 as their QBs coach. He left to join USC as their QBs coach the following year.
Since then, Sarkisian has worked for the Raiders, the University of Washington, and Alabama to go along with a few stints at USC. The Falcons hired him as their offensive coordinator last year.
In 2018, the Falcons’ offense ranked No. 6 in total yards, No. 10 in points scored, No. 27 in rushing yards and No. 4 in passing yards.
Manuel, 39, began his NFL coaching career with the Seahawks back in 2012 as an assistant special teams coach. After three seasons in Seattle, the Falcons hired him as their secondary coach and he worked his way up to defensive coordinator in 2017.
The Falcons’ defense currently ranks No. 28 in yards allowed, No. 25 in points allowed, No. 25 in rushing yards allowed and No. 27 in passing yards allowed.
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