5 potential replacements for Dan Quinn with the Atlanta Falcons

Could it happen? It might happen. The Falcons could look at bringing in former longtime Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy into the fold. Things fell apart for McCarthy in Green Bay in the years to follow after the 2016 NFC Championship loss to the Falcons in Atlanta. Many thought he’d be a top choice for the Cleveland Browns or the New York Jets’ vacancies, but he didn’t bite.

McCarthy opted to spend the 2019 season out of football. He will be a candidate for any number of head coaching vacancies that come in 2020, possibly in Atlanta. Sure, his offensive philosophy grew stale in Green Bay, as well as his inability to get it right on the defensive side of the ball. That being said, Atlanta’s front office will be more flexible than Green Bay’s ever was for him.

Besides being a championship head coach that is on the free-agent market, his best attribute might be that his timeline matches up pretty well with the rest of Matt Ryan’s prime as a starting quarterback. Neither men are spring chickens, but they still have something left to prove in the tank. Maybe together, they can help elevate each other towards the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Overall, McCarthy feels like a very strong candidate for the Falcons job. He’d have the respect of owner Arthur Blank and the front office, as well as the players in the locker room. However, his tough Pittsburgh persona and Midwestern ethos from so many years in Green Bay might create issues in the Atlanta media market. He’ll be good, but he may not bring a ton of excitement.