Fresh off one of the worst downfalls in Super Bowl history, wait, check that, THE worst downfall in Super Bowl history, the Atlanta Falcons have made a quick hiring splash. It was absolutely no secret that Kyle Shanahan was on his way out following the team’s playoff run so the team has wasted no time in bringing in a new play caller. Last night, Kyle Shanahan was confirmed as the new head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, while today Steve Sarkisian was named his replacement as the new offensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons.
Kyle Shanahan Hired as San Francisco 49ers Head Coach
After beginning his coaching career at UCLA as a graduate assistant, Shanahan moved up the ladder quickly. He became the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive quality control coach for two seasons in 2004. He was then named the Houston Texans wide receivers coach for one year in 2006. Within the next three years, he then moved up to quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator before taking off for Washington in 2010. He held that gig for three years before taking over as the Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator for one year in 2014. Shanahan took off immediately after another dismal season for the Browns and caught on quick with the Atlanta Falcons. He called the offense for two years and led the league in offensive output in 2016 before landing his first head coaching gig.
On February 6, 2017 Kyle Shanahan was named the new head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.
Atlanta Falcons Hire Offensive Coordinator Steve Sarkisian
Sarkisian had spent time on the sidelines with El Camino College, USC, the University of Washington and Oakland Raiders before departing for Alabama this past year. After the Crimson Tide imploded in the final seconds against Clemson, Sark then must have decided he had a taste for collapses and is now heading back to the show with the Atlanta Falcons.
Originally, Sark began the 21st century as the quarterbacks coach at El Camino College. He then took the job as offensive assistant in 2001 at USC, before being named quarterbacks coach in 2002. He held that post until 2004 before departing for the Oakland Raiders. Again, he worked as the QB coach there for one season before returning to USC as the assistant head coach in 2005. Sark was named the next offensive coordinator, following Lane Kiffin’s departure for the Oakland Raiders head coaching job.
One year later, Steve Sarkisian was named the University of Washington’s 23rd head coach. He’d stay with the Huskies for four years before heading back to the Trojans in December of 2013. Sark became the head coach of the Trojans and held that post for two seasons before departing for the Alabama Crimson Tide this past fall.
After less than one full season as the offensive coordinator for Bama, Steve Sarkisian decided to pack up and head back to the NFL. Sark was officially named Kyle Shanahan’s successor on February 7, 2017.
