New Orleans Saints co defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

New Falcons defensive coordinator praised by division rival

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 1/31/23

If there’s anyone who can vouch for new Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, it’s Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan.

The two spent the last six years together in New Orleans with Nielsen serving as Jordan’s position coach each season. After the Falcons announced Nielsen’s hire, Jordan sung the praises of his former coach via Twitter.

Ryan to Dc job was inevitable. Top tier DL coach in terms of developing pass rush and emphasizing technique on run and gap integrity. wish him the semi-best as he willingly went to the Failcons… happy-ish for him pic.twitter.com/la3TaOW4id
— cameron jordan (@camjordan94) January 28, 2023

Jordan personally flourished under Nielsen’s tutelage, racking up 69 sacks and 87 tackles for loss while earning a First Team All-Pro selection, two Second Team All-Pro selections and five Pro Bowl selections — even finishing fourth in the Defensive Player of the Year voting in Nielsen’s first season with the team.

New Orleans ranked in the top 10 in sacks every year Nielsen coached the defensive line, including three seasons ranked in the top five. Fixing the pass rush is perhaps No. 1 on Atlanta’s to-do list after finishing next-to-last with 21 sacks in 2022 and last the previous season with 18.

In two seasons under former coordinator Dean Peas, the Falcons' defense consistently ranked in the bottom third of the league. They ranked 27th and 26th, respectively, in total defense and 23rd and 29th in scoring defense.

Nielsen got his start in the NFL as the Saints' defensive line coach in 2017. He was promoted to assistant head coach in 2021 and then added co-defensive coordinator to his title in 2022.

Now, the Saints will see him twice a year.

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