Dirk Koetter named Falcons’ new offensive coordinator
Dirk Koetter, formerly of the Jacksonville Jaguars, agreed to terms to become the Falcons
Dirk Koetter (Associated Press)
new offensive coordinator on Sunday, the team confirmed.
Koetter is set to talk to the media on a conference call at 11 a.m. Monday.
“I am very pleased to add Coach Koetter as our offensive coordinator,” Falcons head coach Mike Smith said in a statement issued by the team. “Dirk is a veteran offensive coach who will bring years of NFL experience as an offensive coordinator as well as a fresh set of ideas to our offense. He is bright, he understands the intricacies of the vertical passing game, but he also wants to be able to run the football which is very important in the NFL. I look forward to working with Dirk and have tremendous confidence that he will be a great addition to our team and our coaching staff.”
Koetter, 52, was Jacksonville’s offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2011. He will replace Mike Mularkey, who left to become Jacksonville’s head coach. AJC columnist Jeff Schultz has checked in already on the hire.
Falcons coach Mike Smith and Koetter were Jacksonville’s coordinators in 2007. Smith was hired to take over the Falcons the following season.
Smith is high on Koetter’s work and with how running back Maurice Jones-Drew led the league in rushing while the Jaguars had a rookie quarterback and an anemic passing attack. The Falcons running attack posted big numbers, but struggled in short yardage situations. Missing Pro Bowl fullback Ovie Mughelli certainly hur their short-yardage attack.
Koetter was head coach in the college ranks at Boise State and Arizona State. The Sun Devils’ vertical passing attack helped him land the offensive coordinator position with Jacksonville.
At Arizona State he had four winning seasons and went to four bowl games.
Thanks to @CavemanGamer who tweet us this link. It’s an interview with Koetter from July 2011 on XandOlabs.com.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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559 comments Add your comment
RGO67
January 15th, 2012
1:53 pm
Q & A with Dirk…http://xandolabs.com/2011/07/dirk-koetter-exclusive-interview/
Rationale
January 15th, 2012
1:54 pm
There is no rationale with this hire.
Falcon Fan
January 15th, 2012
1:54 pm
By the way, say what you want about Singletary, but he built that S.F. defense. His resume is far better then Mike Nolan’s. Haven’t even heard of him as a candidate! He is probably not fit for a Head Coach, but his firey get in your face attitude is perfect for a DC.
Rickey
January 15th, 2012
1:54 pm
Blow me falcons fan! I guess to be a real falcon fan you have to try and call out other people.
Your such a real fan. Please teach me how to be more like you.
262 Falcon
January 15th, 2012
1:56 pm
To the guy who hates Falcons fans: It’s idiots like you keep Atlanta sports settling for mediocrity. When you get tired of the mediocrity and want to actually pay to go and see a game come on down and visit us in the Gultch and we’ll show you what true Falcons Fans care about.
I Love Falcons Fans that are passionate enough to care about wanting a Super Bowl and not settling for hopefully getting to the playoffs next season. This hire is cronyism at it’s highest level. I’m sure there were tons of teams lined up to hire Dirk after his stellar offensive production in Jax since 07. This hire couldn’t have waited to see if other candidates with better resumes shook out? Really?
This has now turned into the Mike Smith will need a job in 2013 so don’t forget what I did for you show…..
ron
January 15th, 2012
1:56 pm
Does anyone know how the Aints Superbowl road is going?
Fed UP
January 15th, 2012
1:56 pm
Get rid of the players.
“score” just two (2) points in a playoff game?
And these guys make how much $$?
They are beneath respect.
Falcon Fan
January 15th, 2012
1:57 pm
Rickey it will probably take another 5 or 6 years of losing before you get like me, because I was like you up until this year. Sooner or later you wake up to the bs and want a change.
Malcome the falcon
January 15th, 2012
1:58 pm
Will anyone see if Marion Campbell is available?
Falcon Fan
January 15th, 2012
1:58 pm
RON, the Saints super bowl road is going better then ours because they have a ring and we don’t. And they just beat our ass last time they played us! I hate the Saints but damn if I don’t respect them!
JJ
January 15th, 2012
1:58 pm
If you really think Author Blank made the decision on who OC is your not a real football fan and dont get who decide who to hire. Do you really think Falcons going to worry about one fan not keep season tickets? Nope as they have a list of people waiting to buy.
Falcons4Eva
January 15th, 2012
1:58 pm
“When reached by phone, Koetter was in Orlando, Fla., but said the team instructed him not to talk to the media.”
Why was that? Was it so that the 3-Stooges (Thomas DimWitt, Arthur Blank and Mike Smith) can try and control the backlash and put their on spin on it?
You can put as much perfume you want on ish, but it is still sh!t.
Rip
January 15th, 2012
1:59 pm
Every fiber is my body tells me this is a poor pick, never saw anything in the Jags offense that would keep a defensive coordinator up at night. Please do not turn this organization into the good old boys network. just like a noted after drafting Matty dice that he had an below average NFL QB arm and could not get the ball deep without it floating on him, we were better off with non thinking outside of the box MM
DaveDawg96
January 15th, 2012
1:59 pm
I guess Dan Henning passed on the job?
suwannee joe
January 15th, 2012
2:00 pm
Does nt matter if we have a sexy pic as o.c a s coach i,m just wondering why pick up a o.c from another losinfg franchise? I,m not understanding any of the decisions being made by Flowery Branch..At least wait until after the super bowl and see who.s available !
Geico Lizard Just Told Me I Saved
January 15th, 2012
2:00 pm
Over $2,000 by not renewing my Atlanta Falcons Season Tickets!
ICE MELTS IN RAIN
January 15th, 2012
2:00 pm
SEASON TICKETS ON HOLD PENDING DC HIRE. Smitty you are OFFICIALLY on the clock with this DUMB AZZ hire!!!! It shows how WEAK you are as a LEADER to bring in someone you are comfortable with (meaning who will not buck the system) and tell you your thought process is OUTDATED!!! Arthur Blank you are an elffing liar for claiming to want to a DIFFERENT perspective. This dude will not have the BALLS to speak out against his FRIEND WHITE HAIR SMITTY!!! Mediocre Hire for a less than MEDIOCRE organization.
44counter
January 15th, 2012
2:00 pm
You would think with the weapons on the Falcons’ offense, Blank and his people would have the top OC’s rushing to apply. I’m sure when Blank was CEO of homedepot, he only considered the elite for top management jobs.
Rip
January 15th, 2012
2:00 pm
I am sure the Falcon’s Leadership will try to convince you it is a good pick but come on, do not piss on me and tell me it is rain
Ihatefakefalconsfans
January 15th, 2012
2:01 pm
hey 262 i have season tix buddy so shut your mouth. have had them for years now and i do park in the gultch buddy. But you and ur butt buddy falcon fan dissing on someone you have never met or seen coach this team is retarded. All teams in atl choke, so is it really the coaches or the players they sign. What other falcons coach gave us back to back winning season or let alone this many playoff runs and yall want to complain. Bunch of losers
falconsrelax
January 15th, 2012
2:02 pm
Falcon Fan don’t try and act like your a real falcon now. “OH LETS WAIT AND SEE” approach. Your shoot down every move possible. Losing dignity when we lose? Who are you? Your no special than any other falcon fan. Yeah we lost but we still have done things this franchise has never done. Your sitting up here saying you expect the same results. You don’t even know the guy nor do you know his sytem. Hes a passing guy. Coordinators are only has good as their players AND THIS GUY DIDN’T HAVE ANY. Go get a big name guy? Guy like who on offense. The only other real option was Tom Clements. Mcdaniels went back to NE. You see the comments, not all falcon fans hate the pick up. What I want you to do is remember this moment. Because just like with Matt ryan, william moore, weatherpspoon, etc. FALCON FANS KNEE JERK REACT WAY TOO SOON, critique smitty and TD, then when it works out WANT TO PRAISE THEM. I could see if its after 1 season and we regress but it hasn’t even been 1 day yet. WHAT YOU “WANT” as a falcon fan isn’t a gurantee that thats what this team “NEEDS.” Your mad about the pick up but if its the right move your going to be in here regretting everything you said. NO FAITH IN YOUR TEAM…..SMH.
Nique
January 15th, 2012
2:03 pm
Not good news on the DC front, which we need to knock out of the park, I was hoping for the GB QB coach as our new OC, but worse news maybe that with Greg Williams leaving Adam Schefter reports that New Orleans already has a short list of potential replacements — former Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo and Miami defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. Those two also have been mentioned as potential defensive coordinators in Atlanta.
Even with the season over, we could see the Falcons and Saints battling over defensive coordinators.
Jim
January 15th, 2012
2:03 pm
You don’t stop losing by crying on a blog about losing, you get change by being positive and believing and making good personel decisions. They will hire who they want too regardless of what we the fans want or say. We just have to go with it and make the best.
Ihatefakefalconsfans
January 15th, 2012
2:04 pm
falconsrelax good post. i agree
Tree Rollins
January 15th, 2012
2:05 pm
I was personally hoping Billy Joe Tolliver was available for this job but all along I was thinking this guy Koetter was my 2nd choice. I guess Tolliver never played for the Jags so the comfort factor wasn’t there with Coach Smith.
garcia
January 15th, 2012
2:05 pm
Sick, unhappy people. It seems Atlanta is full of them.
Relax! Learn more about his guy before you whine and complain. Mike Smith is on the hot seat. The press conference was public proof of that. If Mike Smith hired this man, then Smith is putting his career in Koetter’s hands.
Why fuss? In all likelihood, this will turn out to be a good hire.
Blue
January 15th, 2012
2:06 pm
Jim you stupid Look at Denver the fans made that change If they would have sat there and said nothing a change would not have been made.
Sorry Saints, misery loves company...Go Falcons!
January 15th, 2012
2:09 pm
I just feel sorry for Matt Ryan and the rest of the Falcons. They keep having to work for average to subpar coaching while all the other explosive teams hire excellent coaching. Koetter has doen what exactly? Coach David Garrard out of Jax and abuse MJD while doing nothing to bring along Gabbert (and you want to hire a guy to come in and abuse Turner too). I now see that Mularkey actually made a great decision. He gets to coach up an under developed Gabbert while the Falcons continue to regress….This will turn out to be a horrible decision, but i will continue to watch like i always do and hope and pray for some divine intervention from Blank in which someone wakes the hell up and takes this franchise to a super bowl championship.
Falcon Fan
January 15th, 2012
2:09 pm
falconsrelax you must have me mixed up with another fan. I guess my name is pretty common. I have said pretty much the same thing you have until this year. I’m tired of it. FALCON FANS KNEE JERK REACT WAY TOO SOON, critique smitty and TD, then when it works out WANT TO PRAISE THEM. I agree with most of your statement but unlike most people I am a MAN. If it works out yes I will be happy because I am a fan and that’s what I want. But I won’t be on this blog like I didn’t doubt it. There is a slight chance if you play the lottery you will win it, but you probably won’t. If I’m wrong I will say it, but if you are wrong will you? Or will you say, I am a fan wait till next year? When will you say you were wrong? How many years will it take? Don’t worry I’ll wait.
ieatdeadpigs
January 15th, 2012
2:09 pm
Can’t be much worse than MM. Maybe this guy can do wonders with weapons on offense.
I have an idea though…. hire Peyton Manning to be the OC.
rivercard
January 15th, 2012
2:09 pm
falconsrelax- Of course everyone has to wait and see, but at this point I can’t see a fact based argument for this being a good hire. The pick appears to be consistent with the teams play. Uninspired and unimaginative. Hope my initial reaction is wrong.
falconsrelax
January 15th, 2012
2:11 pm
@ ihatefakefalconfan Its the truth mad. I understand opinion on who you want as coordinator but to knee jerk react and already claim its a bad move is just completely absurd. Give it a chance, its common sense to me. IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE PLAYERS THE SYSTEM WON’T WORK, but what happens when you get offensive talent to work with like ours. Does your system then work? Chances will say yes. Its simple as that, those two “supposedly” falcon fans don’t get it. 99.9% falcon fans including myself swore TD and Smitty didn’t know what they were doing when they drafted. Falcon fans swore we should’ve taken matthews when weatherspoon was slowed by injuries in 10′. Then this year, “OH I LOVE WEATHERSPOON!” Same with william moore. TD and smitty know what they’re doing. I will at least give the guy a chance….PEOPLE FORGET NOBODY KNEW WHO SEAN PAYTON AND MIKE SMITH WERE.
44counter
January 15th, 2012
2:12 pm
Come to think of it, this organization hired Jim Mora and “that guy who quit during the night”……there is some history on piss-poor hires.
cwltank
January 15th, 2012
2:12 pm
I am hopeful & I agree, he can not be worst than MM LOL. Turner is bigger than Drew so with an improved line we should improved on the run. Therefore, the recievers should have alot 1 on 1 match ups.
Fal11
January 15th, 2012
2:12 pm
The sign of a great OC is the scheme around the talent you have, not to have the talent scheme around you. I’m afraid like MM… This guy will do the later.
dc
January 15th, 2012
2:13 pm
Maurice Jones-Drew comes with him…… right ?????
Fal11
January 15th, 2012
2:13 pm
I mean latter..oooppps
duronimo
January 15th, 2012
2:14 pm
What’s the deal with Falcon/Jaguar relationship? Answer? Incest. But I guess you go to the best organizations to get the best people .. Ha Ha.
Altie Kocker
January 15th, 2012
2:15 pm
It will be the results that count next season, not what the blogging public says here. Dick Koetter was also looked upon favorably by the Chicago Bears for their open OC position, so I think it would be nice to at least give him a chance: http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/01/10/report-titans-deny-bears-request-to-interview-loggains/
Blue
January 15th, 2012
2:15 pm
And the only reason people know Mike Smith now is because he can’t get the job done. And they know Sean Payton cause he can get the job done.
Falcon Fan
January 15th, 2012
2:15 pm
44counter there IS A HISTORY! But some fans act like they don’t see it. I feel like Zoolander. ITS THE SAME LOOK! I FEEL LIKE I’M TAKING CRAZY PILLS, LOL!
Desert Dawg
January 15th, 2012
2:16 pm
Meet the new Boss. same as the old Boss, the Falcons got fooled again.
Tired of this mess
January 15th, 2012
2:17 pm
Can’t wait for Mike Smith to be gone. This stinks and I think that the Atlanta fans are gonna let Blank know about it next year. I hate this hire; Geez.
drsoul
January 15th, 2012
2:18 pm
Lest anyone think otherwise…..it was Bernie Marcus that made Home Depot…..Blank is just happy that he was on the team…!!! His business acumen since being ’shown the door’ out of HD speaks for itself…
Ernest T Bass
January 15th, 2012
2:18 pm
Barney Smith hires Gomer now all he has to do is hire Goober next!It all starts with the head coach and coach Smith is not it!! Look at SF,that’s what happen when you hire the right coach!!
disgruntled_Atlanta_fan
January 15th, 2012
2:20 pm
Ok, obviously the Falcons do not care much about winning with this hire. Obviously this was a move done just to appease Mike Smith. This is very irritating.
vesaversa
January 15th, 2012
2:23 pm
I’m not impressed or excited over this new OC hire . It seam to me that Blank would have hired someone who wasn’t associate’s with Coach Smith who i beleive isn’t qualified to be head coach in the NFL .
Halsey
January 15th, 2012
2:23 pm
I am shocked that this hire is not universally applauded. I thought for sure the Falcons were going to hire coordinators that would please every person on Earth.
FalconsFairWeatherFans
January 15th, 2012
2:27 pm
Let’s fire the coach who has given Atlanta it’s first 4 straight winning seasons. Before Mike Smith took over, how many back to back winning seasons did we have? You fair weather fans are already saying this is a horrible move, and Dirk Koetter hasn’t even coached for us yet! I would say be patient, but come on, we know fair weather fans don’t know the meaning of patience.
Fair weather fans, shut up with the “we would be better if we had Tim Tebow”. You fair weather fans keep pointing out that Tebow, has one win over Matt Ryan in playoffs. Whoopie Doo!!!! How did Tebow do against the Patriots? Fair weather fans, kept bragging about Tebow’s “316 passing yards” stats, which by the way, came against a team that was battling serious injuries. Since you fans are loving to point out stats, here is one for you. At halftime on Saturday’s loss, Tebow had fewer completions (3) than Brady had touchdown passes (5). Also, the Patriots defense was ranked 31, and didn’t allow “superman” to score a single touchdown. You fair weather fans really think Tebow is a great passer? Look at Tebow’s stats against NFL teams with a winning record. For some reason, fair weather fans don’t want to point out those stats.
spotlessbiker
January 15th, 2012
2:28 pm
What a bunch of idiots!!! We now know for sure that Mike Smith is the problem…outdated concepts on offense and defense……the Jags have been unwatchable for years…even when decent the Jags looked poorly coached at critical times…who does that remind you of?…I have watched the Falcons since 1966….the franchise has always had poor ownership…I had hoped Arthur Blank was the man needed…..4 straight winning seasons but never living up to expecttions…..THIS IS THE ATLANTA FALCONS!!!!!!