The Mike Smith tree, or the Thomas Dimitroff tree, doesn’t have the same kind of ring to it.
But no teams has been or is being picked over more heavily than the Falcons’ right now.
Along with previously reported interviews for offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter (Chiefs, Eagles, Browns) and special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong (Chiefs and Bears), the Falcons were also asked to talk to defensive coordinator Mike Nolan by the Eagles, according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports.
This is after the Jaguars already got an interview in with David Caldwell, their director of player personnel, for their vacant general manager job.
Losing parts is nothing new for the Falcons.
After the 2010 season, quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave jumped to Minnesota to be offensive coordinator.
Last offseason was more active, with former director of player personnel Les Snead hired to be the Rams GM, and offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey became the Jaguars head coach, taking quarterbacks coach Bob Bratkowski with him as offensive coordinator.
“Per league rules, this is the window for teams that have a bye week where assistant coaches can interview,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said, via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “I will say this, I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to comment on any other team’s head coaching search. I feel like that we’ve got a number of guys on our staff that would be outstanding head coaches and per league rules if someone called and asked permission we would grant it because we’d have to.”
Any coach has a selfish interest in keeping a staff together and focused, but the Falcons now have an up-and-out culture because they keep filling jobs with smart people others will want, one which serves them well.