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Falcons expected to hire Steve Sarkisian as offensive coordinator

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No one was surprised when the 49ers hired Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan to be their next head coach. Everyone will be surprised by the identity of the Falcons’ next offensive coordinator.

Steve Sarkisian is poised to get the offensive coordinator job in Atlanta, according to Jordan Schultz of the Huffington Post.

Sarkisian spent seven years as a college head coach, five at Washington and two at USC, but he was fired by USC after disappointing performances on the field and allegations that alcohol abuse was affecting his behavior off the field. He then became an assistant coach at Alabama and just got promoted to offensive coordinator this year. Now Nick Saban’s program needs a new top assistant.

The hiring in Atlanta is surprising for a number of reasons, including the fact that he has very little professional experience (just one season as the Raiders’ quarterbacks coach in 2004) and the fact that he has never worked with Falcons head coach Dan Quinn. But Sarkisian did visit the Falcons’ training camp after USC fired him, and he reportedly has a good relationship with Quinn.

There were reports that the Falcons were thinking of hiring former Eagles and 49ers head coach Chip Kelly as their offensive coordinator, but now Kelly will continue to look for work.

As for Sarkisian, his job will be to keep the best offense in the NFL rolling, and to help the Falcons avoid the Super Bowl losers’ curse.

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41 Responses to “Falcons expected to hire Steve Sarkisian as offensive coordinator”
  1. sportswart says: Feb 7, 2017 11:49 AM

    How do guys like this fall forward into amazing situations??

  2. PegulaBucks says: Feb 7, 2017 11:50 AM

    check the back of the toilets for booze

  3. ryann252013 says: Feb 7, 2017 11:50 AM

    WHAT???

  4. donterrelli says: Feb 7, 2017 11:51 AM

    “Steve Sarkisian is poised to get the offensive coordinator job in Atlanta, according to Jordan Schultz of the Huffington Post.”

    #FakeNews

  5. raidernation37 says: Feb 7, 2017 11:51 AM

    Nick Saban must be terrible to work for

  6. kane337 says: Feb 7, 2017 11:53 AM

    Anyone know what kind of offense he runs?

  7. illumination666 says: Feb 7, 2017 11:53 AM

    Every Falcons fan is the world is calling for Shannahans head right now. But what they fail to realize, is that he carried that team, along with the offensive talent. Theyll realize that next year when they finish last in the NFCS, esp with the train wreck Sarkisian is.

  8. elyasm says: Feb 7, 2017 11:53 AM

    The Falcons’ hangover may have just gotten a bit more literal.

  9. 513guy says: Feb 7, 2017 11:54 AM

    Smart move, the bars are much better in Atlanta.

  10. theimmaculatedeception says: Feb 7, 2017 11:55 AM

    If an alcoholic’s lips are moving, he’s lying.
    -Personal Experience

  11. vancouversportsbro says: Feb 7, 2017 11:55 AM

    lmao

  12. vancouversportsbro says: Feb 7, 2017 11:56 AM

    Every Falcons fan is the world is calling for Shannahans head right now. But what they fail to realize, is that he carried that team, along with the offensive talent.

    ———————–

    He did. He practically lead Matt Ryan to an MVP season. That will not happen again.

  13. Bizzareslantpass says: Feb 7, 2017 11:56 AM

    Sark will drink to that!

  14. cardinealsfan20 says: Feb 7, 2017 11:58 AM

    Good luck Coach Sark. Excellent coach, glad that is getting a chance to continue his recovery and be recognized in his profession.

  15. wimpyburgers says: Feb 7, 2017 12:00 PM

    Well, isn’t that a booger!

  16. ketch20too says: Feb 7, 2017 12:01 PM

    Hope Quinn tells him to run the ball instead of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

  17. wimpyburgers says: Feb 7, 2017 12:01 PM

    “Anyone know what kind of offense he runs?”

    I suspect he uses a lot of pick plays

  18. kane337 says: Feb 7, 2017 12:03 PM

    Well certainly no NFL owner would ever hire him as head coach so the Falcons should be able to hang on to him for a long time if he’s good.

  19. feckyerlife says: Feb 7, 2017 12:03 PM

    He’s also the sole reason why they lost the superbowl. His over sized ego (which he had here in washington) wanted to destroy bellicheck instead of play it smart, all it did was bit him on the a**. When you are up 28-3 and proceed to run the ball 5 more times for the rest of the game, then you single handedly lost that game for your team

    illumination666 says:
    Feb 7, 2017 11:53 AM
    Every Falcons fan is the world is calling for Shannahans head right now. But what they fail to realize, is that he carried that team, along with the offensive talent. Theyll realize that next year when they finish last in the NFCS, esp with the train wreck Sarkisian is.

  20. marmac2768 says: Feb 7, 2017 12:04 PM

    I know that Bobby Petrino is a great offensive coach!! I also heard that he will come if the price is right!!

    OOPS! Sorry!

  21. carloswlassiter says: Feb 7, 2017 12:04 PM

    I didn’t see this coming.

  22. factschecker says: Feb 7, 2017 12:05 PM

    Nick Saban must be terrible to work for
    ——–
    Yeah I bet they are livid that their careers take off after Saban rehabbed their image. Saban does for coaches what BB does for players. They limp to him then gallop away. Better then ever.

  23. polegojim says: Feb 7, 2017 12:05 PM

    Hahaha… Nick will be sick.

    Imagine him even GRUMPIER…. ; )

  24. spotsdad says: Feb 7, 2017 12:05 PM

    but he did stay at a Holiday Inn Express………where he raided the mini-bar. I bet he runs the ball when he is supposed to, even if he is bleep faced.

  25. dickshotdogs says: Feb 7, 2017 12:05 PM

    Well, that hire officially marks the start of The Falcon’s Super Bowl hangover. Good luck.

  26. cardinealsfan20 says: Feb 7, 2017 12:06 PM

    @the immaculatedecption says – “If an alcoholic’s lips move, he’s lying”.

    You sir are the reason why so many alcoholics/addicts have difficulty in recovery. Neanderthalic attitudes such as yours do not benefit suffering individuals, their loved ones, or society as a whole.

  27. minson15 says: Feb 7, 2017 12:07 PM

    Freeman and Coleman are going to be happy. He likes to run the ball a lot!

  28. navyvandal says: Feb 7, 2017 12:09 PM

    wait…ALABAMA steve sarkisian?! I thought the whole purpose of him relieving Lane Kiffin was to BE the Offensive coordinator?!

  29. scrimshawturtle says: Feb 7, 2017 12:11 PM

    “Cutty” Sark gets a high pressure job in the NFL?! I’ll drink to that.

  30. idiedpretty says: Feb 7, 2017 12:17 PM

    Cheers to Cutty Sark!

  31. lunar2013 says: Feb 7, 2017 12:20 PM

    Well, so much for the Falcons returning to the SB next year.

  32. stillperfect says: Feb 7, 2017 12:22 PM

    All he said to get the job was “I would have ran the ball instead of passing”

  33. no drooling,chippy,tpet,Vancouver,crybabies allowed says: Feb 7, 2017 12:25 PM

    If Sark is working hard to resolve his issues with alcohol abuse, I for one, wish him success. I’d like to see the man be a success. I think he has a creative offensive mind and might surprise some folks. We’ll see…

  34. winningisabrees says: Feb 7, 2017 12:31 PM

    I would like to toast to….. ah neva mind

  35. bert1913 says: Feb 7, 2017 12:31 PM

    Cheers!

  36. IMHIM says: Feb 7, 2017 12:37 PM

    If the guy stays sober and works a program then the sky is the limit. Recovering alcoholics can be great people when they’re clean and sober.

  37. bassmanatl says: Feb 7, 2017 12:59 PM

    I want to party with him!!!

  38. silverhornet says: Feb 7, 2017 3:43 PM

    Hiring Sarkisian… his history of alcohol abuse on the job… Tad ironic given Shanahan’s questionable play calls in the 2nd half of the Super Bowl. As if he started partying at half time.

  39. San Diego Sportswire says: Feb 7, 2017 4:00 PM

    I’m sorry…”allegations “? Dude showed up to facilities w blow residue on his person and had been up for days and reeked of booze.

  40. marmac2768 says: Feb 7, 2017 5:31 PM

    I can only imagine that Jaylin Ramsey is saying,
    “Whew! That was a close one!”

  41. marmac2768 says: Feb 7, 2017 5:44 PM

    If the guy stays sober and works a program then the sky is the limit. Recovering alcoholics can be great people when they’re clean and sober.”

    ************************************************

    I know some people who are recovering alcoholics and you are right! In fact, some of them who stay sober can even be better and stronger than they were before they drank. That may sound strange, but it’s like, “if a person can beat liquor, they can beat anything”, it has that kind of hold onto a person.

    I think that people need to give him a chance. Hopefully, he can make it back.

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