The Atlanta Falcons may now have their sights set firmly on Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles to fill their vacant head coaching position.
A person familiar with the Falcons search told D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Bowles has a second interview set with the team for Wednesday after initially interviewing with the Falcons brass this weekend.
"Bowles interviewed with the Falcons on Saturday and is now considered the leading candidate to replace head coach Mike Smith since Rex Ryan agreed to be named the head coach at Buffalo," Ledbetter writes.
With Ryan being announced as the next head coach of the Buffalo Bills Monday and New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels - another candidate high on the Falcons' wish-list - expected to stay put, Bowles has vaulted to the top.
The 51-year-old Bowles was on the team's radar from the beginning.
"Bowles is believed to have a major supporter in the Falcons hierarchy in assistant general manager Scott Pioli, who's father-in-law is Bill Parcells," according to Ledbetter. "Bowles worked for Parcells in Dallas and Miami."
Bowles played eight seasons in the league as a safety, mainly for the Washington Redskins, before joining the NFL coaching ranks.
He was the defensive backs coach for the New York Jets in 2000 before joining Cleveland in the same capacity from 2001 to 2004. He then joined the Dallas Cowboys for two seasons.
With the Miami Dolphins, he was initially signed on as the team's secondary coach and assistant head coach. He became the team's interim head coach after Tony Sparano was fired on Dec. 12, 2011, leading the team to a 2-1 record to close out the season.
He then took a step back, joining the Philadelphia Eagles as a secondary coach before again being promoted via another coach's dismissal - this time he became defensive coordinator for the remainder of the 2012 season after coach Andy Reid fired Juan Castillo.
Bowles has been the defensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals since Jan. 18, 2013.
