The Atlanta Falcons have been arguably the NFL’s busiest francise since their season concluded on Sunday. Needing to fill vacancies at head coach and general manager, the team has interviewed a half dozen candidates in just three days.
Due to the Falcons’ dire salary cap situation and limited roster flexibility, team owner Arthur Blank knows he must get both hires right. The best way to do that, according to Blank during Monday’s virtual press conference, is by hiring two candidates with a similar vision of how to build a team.
“They have to see the game the same way,” said Blank. “They have to have a similar plan for how do you build a championship team. If you have different plans, then you’re fighting over the draft — who do you pick, who you don’t pick.”
Some have been critical of Blank for being too loyal, and it’s certainly fair to criticize him for failing to dismiss Dan Quinn and Thomas Dimitroff in 2019. However, Quinn and Dimitroff had a great working relationship — which paid off with a trip to the Super Bowl in 2016 and a playoff win in 2017.
Watch Blank’s virtual press conference, as shared by the team’s Twitter account below.
How are the head coach and general manager searches going?
Arthur Blank provided an update. pic.twitter.com/gy5SGsfvBp
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) January 5, 2021
