Coaching Carousal Continues for Falcons, Other Teams

The Atlanta Falcons had a plan to bring Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles in for a second interview and potentially offer him their head coaching position.

It looks like the New York Jets beat them to it.

Bowles was hired for the same position on Tuesday, eliminating one of the Falcons top choices to help change the culture of the team and hopefully make the playoffs for the first time in two seasons. Now, Atlanta will turn their attention to another defensive specialist, but may have to wait until after the Sper Bowl to make him an offer.

D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that Dan Quinn has now become the focal point of the Falcons hiring search, but since the defensive coordinator is in the middle of the playoffs with the Seattle Seahawks, making him an offer may take some time. Will the Falcons wait or pull the trigger on another candidate to move forward with reorganization of the franchise?

Ledbetter wrote on Tuesday that both Bowles and Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin would get second interviews in Atlanta.

Austin, the Detroit Lions defensive coordinator, is schedule to have a second interview on Wednesday.

Bowles interviewed with the Falcons on Saturday and was considered the leading candidate to replace head coach Mike Smith since Rex Ryan agreed to be named the head coach at Buffalo.

New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is expected to stay with the Patriots. Since Quinn is not available until at least after the NFC championship game and may not be available until after the Super Bowl. He was also considered the leader for the New York Jets coaching vacancy.

That has been taken care of with Bowles now on board.

The team appears ready to find another defensive mastermind to lead this franchise. Mike Smith, who was fired over two weeks ago, was hired from Jacksonville in 2008 to take the reins of the team after he took over for Emmitt Thomas, who took over for the team for the departed Bobby Petrino.

The AJC reported Bowles had been on the Falcons’ radar from the outset of the coaching search, but couldn’t interview until the Cardinals were eliminated from the playoffs.

IN OTHER COACHING NEWS

Now that the positions in Buffalo where Rex Ryan was hired this past weekend and with the Jets have filled their opening, there are four other jobs, including Atlanta, that are still up for grabs.

John Fox and the Denver Broncos parted ways on Monday following the Denver Broncos playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts. He may not be out of a job long as he is reported to be talking with the Chicago Bears.

ESPN Chicago reports John Fox soon will interview for the Chicago Bears' head-coaching vacancy, but he is not locked in for the job, according to league sources.

Fox, who parted ways with the Denver Broncos on Monday, has some advantages going into the interview, the sources said.

He is a veteran coach with a winning record and meets much of the criteria the Bears envision in a possible pairing with a first-year general manager Ryan Pace.

However, the Bears have granted Pace final authority on the coaching hire, and sources say the 37-year-old GM will want to be certain his choice has the sustained energy to embrace the challenge of leading a team that can overcome a competitive NFC North division and win a Super Bowl.

It looks like both the Broncos and the 49ers have their eye on current Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase, which may lead to a bidding war.

Milehighreport.com reports Gase is a leading candidate to replace the departed Fox, but the 49ers have been waiting to potentially make him an offer.

49ers officials are reported to be in Denver for a second interview to possibly make him their next head coach, Jeff Darlington of the NFL Network reports.

“This is all even more interesting due to reports from the Denver Post and Sports Illustrated - possibly speculative - that the Broncos are not seriously interested in Gase as head coach, and will likely look externally in their coaching search. With reports that Peyton Manning and Gase are tied at the hip, Mike Florio of PFT wonders aloud whether the Broncos wouldn't be thankful for San Fran for taking that awkward situation off their hands.”

The Oakland Raiders appear locked into Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio as their new coach.

Foxsports.com broke the story that Del Rio will be the first candidate to have a second interview with the Oakland Raiders for their head coaching job as the two-week search could be nearing a conclusion.

A person with knowledge of the plans said Monday that Del Rio will interview with Oakland on Tuesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team is not releasing details on interviews.

Del Rio met with Raiders owner Mark Davis during the Broncos' bye week. With Denver being eliminated from the playoffs on Sunday, Del Rio is available for a second interview and will be able to sit down with general manager Reggie McKenzie as well.

Del Rio grew up in the Bay Area and his parents are season-ticket holders. He has been defensive coordinator in Denver for the past three seasons, helping the Broncos win three straight AFC West titles.