After a successful one-year stint as the defensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons, Ryan Nielsen has moved on to Jacksonville. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Monday that the Jaguars are expected to hire Nielsen for their defensive coordinator vacancy.
The Falcons took a major step forward under Nielsen in 2023 but his future came into question once the team fired head coach Arthur Smith. After initially blocking Nielsen from taking interviews, the team changed its mind and allowed him to meet with Jacksonville last week.
While it’s not a total surprise to see Nielsen move on, it is somewhat odd that the Falcons didn’t even give him an interview for their head coach vacancy. Fans on Twitter were sad to see Nielsen go.
Felt inevitable after they let him interview. He did really strong work with Atlanta in 2023, I'll always appreciate that https://t.co/upd4imRSuN
— The Falcoholic (@TheFalcoholic) January 22, 2024
Welp…. This is sad. Big congrats to Coach Nielsen, he did a hell of a job with the defense this season. Jags are getting an up and coming stud. https://t.co/IXhGNueUXs
— Ryan Loe (@RiseUpRyanKC) January 22, 2024
A look at where the Falcons defense ranked in 2023:
No. 11 in yards allowed (5,458)
No. 18 in points allowed (373)
No. 8 in passing yards allowed (3,449)
No. 22 in passing touchdowns allowed (24)
No. 20 in rushing yards allowed (2,009)
No. 8 in rushing touchdowns allowed (11) https://t.co/KnBRV8Qi9g— Terrin Waack (@TerrinWaack) January 22, 2024
I lowkey think they should have have him a look at head coach. The way those guys played for him showed a lot. https://t.co/7m66QXa6BM
— Devin Gonzalez (@brown_mamba55) January 22, 2024
They let Nielsen walk 💔💔💔 pic.twitter.com/rRTn27WMVZ https://t.co/g7UuHVmGxp
— Kai (@SznPltts) January 22, 2024
Big loss for the #Falcons defense.
With Nielsen as DC, Atlanta’s defense was the best it’s been in arguably two decades.
Whoever the new head coach will be will inherit a strong group personnel wise on that side of the ball. https://t.co/TBb52AzHmo
— Miles Garrett (@MilesGarrettTV) January 22, 2024
This guy improved our defense in a major way in one season. Helluva job. Hate to see him go but I know the new coach will come with his own people. https://t.co/pH9e5o8uyC
— Demario A. Falcons (@MARIOGA12000) January 22, 2024
We lost a real one yall 🥺 Thank you RN for helping turn the defense around🙏🏽 https://t.co/2cFU75zBkS pic.twitter.com/GUzfWK9ZMd
— JazzyJeffRealTalk (@JazzyJeffRealT1) January 22, 2024
Tough blow. Nielsen re-vitalize the Falcons defense this past season. Now the defense will have their 3rd coordinator in 3 years this next season. https://t.co/P0bMYAX6Cn
— Brice Lewis WYFF NEWS 4 (@bricey_2k) January 22, 2024
Being a falcons fan really is a curse lmao https://t.co/faLdllzQZz
— Tom G (@touchdowntomgbn) January 22, 2024
Responsible for the best Falcons defense I’ve seen in almost a decade. He’ll definitely be missed in Atlanta. https://t.co/3jsYc5Etuw
— GSN (@GASportsNow) January 22, 2024
next season is already over https://t.co/kh1DugCzFd pic.twitter.com/MDy6a7uBFe
— ˣ (@crakcgud) January 22, 2024
Tragic loss https://t.co/pJDhVRgRxV
— Michael Russo II (@CaptainRusso1) January 22, 2024
Man came in and turned the #Falcons defense into something watchable. https://t.co/xdbBRae47s
— Evan Birchfield (@EvanBirchfield) January 22, 2024
Great hire by Jacksonville. Considering how much they have invested in Oluokun and Lloyd at linebacker, they got to think Nielsen can help bring the best out of them after watching how great Elliss and Landman played. https://t.co/VaGkANLzSJ
— Allen Strk (@allenstrk) January 22, 2024
A huge huge loss for us after his instant impact last season.
Wish him nothing but the best though, as a whole the D was play-off worthy for us… https://t.co/rD6Ka4Twyx
— ATL Falcons UK 🇬🇧 (@ATLFalconsUK) January 22, 2024
This points to a defensive minded HC being hired tho 100% imo. https://t.co/s3raQCZgTu
— RiseupJ22♠️🔴 (@HimJ1122) January 22, 2024
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 https://t.co/u044eyZuPU
— A M B E Z Y (@bezy_bby) January 22, 2024
https://t.co/UgTIZI8Yh4 pic.twitter.com/OKKrbf69wK
— Atlanta Falcons (@DirtyBirdz_11) January 22, 2024
https://t.co/dTKY4ERvtl pic.twitter.com/Wsl33rlhOi
— Has Anybody Seen Mike Rotch? 🍤 (@night_sknd_e) January 22, 2024
it was a solid run for defensive coordinator ryan nielsen. hoping the brain trust know what they are doing in flowery branch #DirtyBirds https://t.co/tF2jRIbHgD
— the silverback (@theblack_caesar) January 22, 2024
The Jacksonville Falcons strikes again https://t.co/ijopDztqTE pic.twitter.com/GGmOX1hgnH
— 🅿️𝖑𝖆𝖞𝖇𝖔𝖎 🅿️𝖚𝖋𝖋𝖊𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖌 🇺🇬🇪🇬 (@FalconsGotNext2) January 22, 2024
How I feel knowing we are getting the greatest defensive mind as the next head coach, and he's bringing his protege Mike Vrable. https://t.co/BgxOfBSUmF pic.twitter.com/bhV9Ur4AHI
— 🔥Hank Deezy (@Hankdeezy1) January 22, 2024
Add him to the list of future successful HCs that once worked in Atlanta. https://t.co/he8Kir7VVj
— Sean Nerny🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@Sean_Nerny) January 22, 2024
Billy B to the Falcons CONFIRMED pic.twitter.com/gQWubsc905
— Yung G.O.A.T (@FukbeinSocial) January 22, 2024
This has Bill Belichick written all over it https://t.co/XXRMeQjGyA
— ♊️🔥Retro Boomin 🔥♊ (@MasonDaGemini93) January 22, 2024
The Jaguars have hired Ryan Nielsen as their defensive coordinator. Nielsen brings a press-man heavy scheme to Jacksonville.
The Falcons under Nielsen aligned in press coverage against a league-high 53.7% of wide aligned routes in 2023 (Jaguars: 16.2%, 27th).#DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/WuVpTf5VJ8
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) January 22, 2024
Well, here’s one factor we can remove from the Falcons’ HC situation. Nielsen did an incredible job in his one season with the Falcons. Incredible. https://t.co/HfwHxab2H1
— Will McFadden (@willmcfadden) January 22, 2024
Who have the Falcons interviewed for head coach vacancy? https://t.co/TxpsAjL6Z9 pic.twitter.com/S8QRiy79H7
— The Falcons Wire (@TheFalconsWire) January 21, 2024
- Falcons Twitter reacts to Nielsen departure
- Falcons 2024 opponents list
- Who have Falcons interviewed so far?
- Falcons interview Ben Johnson
- Falcons interview Raheem Morris
