According to Ian Rapoport, the Falcons have requested second interviews for two Ravens assistant coaches, Mike Macdonald and Anthony Weaver.
Last week, the Falcons interviewed both candidates virtually. Next week, they’ll be able to interview both in person.
Mike Macdonald is 36 years old and quickly building an incredible resume. His career actually began at the University of Georgia as a graduate assistant. In 2014, he began his time in the NFL with the Ravens as a coaching intern before eventually working his way up and coaching the defensive backs and linebackers.
Macdonald then got his first opportunity to run a defense when he took the job under Jim Harbaugh, coincidently another potential target for the Falcons in their search for their next head coach, as the Wolverines’ defensive coordinator. After one year at Michigan, where he led a top 10 nationally ranked defense that reached the College Football Playoff, he returned to Baltimore to be the defensive coordinator.
This season, Macdonald has helped the Ravens to the #1 scoring defense. They also lead the league in sacks and turnovers. The talent on the Baltimore defense is second to none, but Macdonald’s creative schemes have made life a living hell for some of the brightest offensive minds in the game.
Look no further than this past weekend against Houston. The Texans, led by the emerging C.J. Stroud, entered the game as one of the hottest teams in the league, but Stroud stood no chance, mustering just three points of offense. Being a head coach is much different than being a coordinator, but someone is going to give Macdonald a chance sooner rather than later.
Anthony Weaver is another intriguing candidate that is flying more under the radar than a guy like Macdonald. He’s the defensive line coach in Baltimore as well as the assistant head coach. It’s a testament to the kind of staff Jon Harbaugh has built. As I’ve already mentioned, the Ravens lead the league in sacks; they also have allowed the least amount of rushing touchdowns.
Weaver is squeezing the most out of a talented bunch, but what makes him even more of an intriguing candidate is he is credited for helping the Ravens hire their OC Todd Monken on the Baltimore Ravens team website. If the Falcons are to bring in a defensive coach, the most important hire he will make will be the offensive coordinator. Knowing Weaver has been successful in this area with his current team should appeal to every organization looking at him as a potential head coach.
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