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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Matt Urben

10 things to know about Falcons DC Ryan Nielsen

Ryan Nielsen Falcons Saints USC Dale Zanine Tyler Kaufman New Orleans Saints

The Atlanta Falcons went behind enemy lines to poach New Orleans Saints co-defensive coordinator/DL coach Ryan Nielsen for their defensive coordinator vacancy. Nielsen, 43, spent six years in New Orleans, primarily coaching the defensive line.

Other than working for a division rival and earning high praise from Saints defensive lineman Cameron Jordan, Falcons fans don’t know a ton about Nielsen.

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Here are 10 things to know about Atlanta’s new defensive coordinator.

1
Started at DT for USC from 1999-2001

Donald Miralle /Allsport

2
Signed with Eagles 2002 (0 games played)

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

3
DL coach at Ole Miss under Ed Orgeron (2005-2007)

Dale Zanine USA TODAY Sports Copyright (c) 2007 Dale Zanine

4
DL coach/assistant at NC State (2012-2016)

Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

5
DL coach for New Orleans Saints (2017-2020)

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

6
Declined defensive coordinator job at LSU in 2021

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

7
Promoted to assistant head coach by Saints in 2021

(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

8
Named co-defensive coordinator by Saints in 2022

(AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)

9
Saints D ranked 2nd against the pass, 5th in total sacks in 2022

(AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)

10
Left Saints to become Falcons defensive coordinator in 2023

(AP Photo/John Bazemore)
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