5 candidates to replace Dan Quinn as Atlanta Falcons head coach

Martindale interviewed for the New York Giants head coaching job after last season, and in February the Ravens made him the highest-paid defensive coordinator in the league. He came to Baltimore as linebackers coach in 2012, and in two seasons as defensive coordinator the Ravens have finished first (2018( and fourth (2019) in total defense and second (2018) and third (2019) in scoring defense.

The Falcons tried a defensive guy as head coach in Quinn, and outside of the season that ended with a trip to the Super Bowl it hasn’t gone very well on that side of the ball. That’s now due in big part to Quinn coming from the Seattle Seahawks’ coaching tree, and the roots of what’s been shown to be an antiquated defensive system without “The Legion of Boom” secondary at its peak.

Martindale seems to have no trouble being adaptable and creative, as the key pieces of his defensive unit have changed from year to year–sometimes on pretty short notice, see Earl Thomas. In it’s own way that’s the opposite of Quinn, who seems to be a “this is what we do” guy until he’s in danger or being fired during a bye week. Don’t dismiss the notion that Blank told him to give up the defensive play-calling at that point last year, or he’d be fired.

Martindale will get head coaching looks again after this season. His desire to leave the Ravens will be a big factor in any opportunities he entertains, but the Falcons should be very interested.