On Friday, the Falcons hired Saints co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen as their new defensive coordinator, poaching him away from their division rival.
Nielsen coached the Saints defensive line since 2017, and was a huge part of the defense’s resurgence under then-defensive coordinator and now-head coach Dennis Allen. Nielsen’s former best player, Cameron Jordan, said it was “inevitable” that Nielsen get his own defense to run, while also lamenting him going to the Saints’ biggest rival.
“Top tier DL coach in terms of developing pass rush and emphasizing technique on run and gap integrity,” Jordan said.