Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees was taken to the hospital prior to the team’s game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, but fortunately he did not have to stay there very long.

Pees was involved in an on-field collision at the Caesars Superdome. Reporters who were in attendance said a Saints player who was fielding punts ran into the 73-year-old coach. The Falcons announced in a statement prior to kickoff that Pees was taken to a New Orleans hospital but was “stable, alert and responsive.”

During the second half of the game, the Falcons issued an update saying Pees was treated and released from the hospital. He was cleared to rejoin the team and fly back to Atlanta.

Pees is in his second season as the Falcons’ defensive coordinator. He served in the same role with the Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots prior to taking the Atlanta job. He has been a part of two Super Bowl champion teams.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Atlanta to be first race of NASCAR's In-Season Tournament
West Point alum made history in his MLB debut with Reds
Heat legend cautions Lakers against hiring JJ Redick
Welcome to the WNBA: Caitlin Clark sets infamous record in debut
Jalen Brunson leads Knicks to blowout win in Game 5 vs. Pacers
Nikola Jokic torches DPOY to lead Nuggets past Wolves in Game 5
Oilers use late heroics to tie Canucks at two games each
Watch: Astros pitcher ejected after foreign substance check
Kirk Cousins not angry with Falcons because winning is 'hard enough'
Bronny James has surprising comments on potentially teaming up with LeBron
Bills add two-time Super Bowl champ to new-look WR room
Brewers lose team-leading home run hitter to injured list
Sandy Alderson denies involvement in Mets, Billy Eppler IL controversy
Twins reliever shut down for six weeks with patellar tendon tear
Chris Finch throws shade at Nuggets star over Rudy Gobert’s fine
Cardinals head coach warns not to bet against Kyler Murray
Details emerge on Jason Kelce’s role at ESPN
Rangers defenseman wins Mark Messier Leadership Award
Ex-NFL head coach takes over as Arena Football League commish
Yankees young stud takes major step in return from injury

Want more sports news?

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans who start their day with Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the best newsletter in sports.