Jerry Gray is joining the Atlanta Falcons. Long rumored to be a defensive coordinator candidate after Dean Pees retired, Gray didn’t land that role but is going to bring his experience and quality work with defensive backs to Atlanta in a different role.
The team announced Tuesday that Gray will be joining as an assistant head coach/defense, which is a fancy way of saying he’ll have a significant role on the defense. With a first-time defensive coordinator in Atlanta—Ryan Nielsen was the co-defensive coordinator for New Orleans for one season—Gray’s two solid stints as a defensive coordinator in Buffalo and Tennessee and his decades of experience should prove valuable.