The Falcons revealed on social media Thursday that Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson, a contender for Titans and Panthers head coaching positions, interviewed for the position.
After two years as Nick Sirianni's quarterbacks coach, Johnson, 36, was the Eagles' offensive coordinator this year. He is largely recognized with helping Jalen Hurts go from a raw 22-year-old 2nd-round selection who replaced Carson Wentz late in 2020 to a Pro Bowler and record-setting Super Bowl standout last year.
Johnson and Hurts struggled in 2023, resulting in the Eagles' 32-9 wild-card defeat to the Buccaneers on Monday. The Johnson position is strange. Johnson is still with the Eagles, but Sirianni may not return in 2024. Though he may soon be unemployed, he's still a sought-after head coach.
Johnson struggled this year directing plays for another offense. Though the Eagles lost five of their last six regular-season games and a wild-card game, the offense ended sixth in NFL scoring, eighth in yards, fourth in first downs, third in 3rd-down conversions, and ninth in red zone.
Johnson met Hurts as a toddler. Hurts' father Averion coached Johnson at Baytown's Robert E. Lee High School. Johnson, who backed up Alex Smith in 2004, had a great senior year at Utah, throwing 27 touchdowns and nine interceptions and defeating Alabama in the Sugar Bowl at the Superdome.
After coaching offensive coordinator at Utah in 2012, he worked at Mississippi State and Houston before joining Dan Mullen's Florida Gators in 2018. His 2020 offensive coordinatorship at Florida, when the Gators averaged 40 points per game, won him the Eagles' quarterbacks coaching position when Sirianni came over.
The Falcons have interviewed Bill Belichick twice, Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, Michigan head coach John Harbaugh, Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, Ravens defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald, Ravens assistant head coach and defensive line coach Anthony Weaver, and 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks,
Arthur Smith was sacked on Jan. 8 after three 7-10 seasons as Falcons coach. Falcons have lost six straight seasons.