Rich Mckay Chief Executive Officer – Ambse; Chief Executive Officer – Atlanta Falcons | Atlanta Falcons Website
Rich Mckay Chief Executive Officer – Ambse; Chief Executive Officer – Atlanta Falcons | Atlanta Falcons Website
The Atlanta Falcons have announced the departure of defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake and defensive line coach Jay Rodgers. Head coach Raheem Morris explained, "After a thorough evaluation of the season, and with careful consideration for our team's future, we deemed these moves necessary." He acknowledged the difficulty of such decisions on a personal level and extended well wishes to both coaches and their families.
This decision follows what was described as a "disappointing" conclusion to the 2024 season. The Falcons' defense faced challenges throughout the year, particularly in maintaining consistency in pass rushing. During the first half of the season, they ranked last in the league with only 10 sacks over 11 weeks. Although there was improvement after their bye week—recording 21 sacks in six games—it did not significantly alter their overall performance ranking.
Next Gen Stats revealed that Atlanta's defense ranked 31st in quarterback pressure rate and total sacks, tying for last place in sack rate. Additionally, they allowed an EPA of +0.08 per dropback (28th overall) and -0.02 per carry (22nd). The team also conceded the ninth-most touchdowns and allowed the tenth-most yards per game.
In his end-of-season press conference, Morris addressed potential changes within his coaching staff: "I've been around the league for a while, and very rarely do things get a chance to stay the same," he stated. He emphasized honesty during evaluations to make decisions benefiting fans.
Lake and Rodgers were both new additions to Atlanta's coaching staff this past season. Lake previously served as assistant head coach for the Los Angeles Rams and had experience working with Morris at Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2006-07. Before joining Atlanta, Rodgers worked with Los Angeles Chargers as outside linebackers coach/run game coordinator before transitioning into defensive line coaching from 2022-23.
The Falcons will begin searching immediately for replacements—marking their fifth defensive coordinator hire since 2020.
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