Ryan Nielsen, the former defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons, is almost done looking for a new home.
Bruce Feldman of The Athletic reports that Nielsen, who oversaw Atlanta’s defense in 2023 before serving as the defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024, is anticipated to join the Buffalo Bills as a senior defensive assistant.
“He drew high interest from multiple teams in this cycle,” Feldman stated.
The Falcons’ defense had its greatest statistical season in more than five years under Nielsen’s leadership.
Atlanta recorded 98 quarterback hits in 2023 after only 69 in 2022, and ended the 2023 season with 42 sacks, surpassing its 39 total sacks from 2021–22 combined.
With 321.1 yards allowed per game, the Falcons were ranked No. 11 in 2023; they were ranked No. 8 in pass defense (202.9 yards), No. 20 in run defense (118.2 yards), and No. 18 in points allowed (21.9 scores).
A few days after firing then-head coach Arthur Smith on January 8, 2024, the Falcons first prevented Nielsen from interviewing for the defensive coordinator position with the Jaguars. Nevertheless, Nielsen was hired on January 22.
Raheem Morris was named as head coach of Atlanta on January 25. To take over as defensive coordinator, Morris brought in former Los Angeles Rams assistant Jimmy Lake.
The change of scenery did not help Lake or Nielsen.
After the season, Nielsen was once again looking for a job after the Jaguars sacked head coach Doug Pederson. On January 11, Lake, meantime, lost his job.
Under Nielsen, Jacksonville’s defense performed poorly in 2024, finishing sixth in scoring, second-to-last in yards allowed, and last in takeaways.
The Falcons, who finished 16th in takeaways and 23rd in overall defense and scoring, were somewhat superior. With 31 sacks, Atlanta came in second-worst.
Lake hasn’t found a job yet. On January 18, the Falcons replaced Lake with Jeff Ulbrich, an interim head coach and former defensive coordinator for the New York Jets.
In the meantime, Nielsen seems to have his 2025 plans in order and might be in the running for a Super Bowl ring in a year.
