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The Atlanta Falcons announced Friday morning that head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff will be returning in their roles for the 2020 season. The Falcons have won three straight and five of seven after a 1-7 start to the season.
There has been intense speculation about the future of both Quinn and Dimitroff coming off a lost season. The team ranks 14th in offensive efficiency and 23rd in defensive efficiency. Given Quinn’s defensive pedigree, the latter ranking would have been what got him fired. He is head coach and defensive coordinator and the defense has never ranked higher than 22nd.
The Falcons are currently 13th in the 2020 NFL Draft order, but could climb into the top ten with a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. This will be a critical offseason for the Falcons and Dimitroff in particular. They currently project to have the second lowest cap space heading into 2020. They’ll clear room with releases and contract restructuring, but Dimitroff will get no excuses to improve the talent on the roster. They have a first and two seconds in the draft, with one coming courtesy of the Mohamed Sanu trade.
Dimitroff and Quinn need to make some things happen to protect their jobs in 2020.
UPDATE: The Falcons also announced that Raheem Morris will take over as defensive coordinator effective at the end of the season.