BREAKING NEWS: Falcons Hire Rams Assistant Head Coach As Defensive Coordinator
The Falcons have brought on board Jimmy Lake, a former assistant head coach from the Rams, to serve as their defensive coordinator
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, who previously served as the Rams’ defensive coordinator, has continued to look towards his former colleagues in Los Angeles to build his coaching staff. In that vein, it came as no surprise when Zac Robinson, the quarterback coach for the Rams, made the move to the Falcons to become their offensive coordinator.
Following suit, the Falcons announced on Monday that they have now hired Jimmy Lake, the assistant head coach of the Rams, to take on the role of their new defensive coordinator
Jimmy Lake, who served as the head coach of the Washington Huskies from 2020 to 2021, played a significant role in the development of their defense. He started as the defensive backs coach and later progressed to the position of co-defensive coordinator, eventually becoming the sole holder of that title.
During his time there, Lake oversaw the growth of notable players such as Budda Baker, who currently plays as a safety for the Arizona Cardinals, and Byron Murphy Jr., a cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings. With his wealth of coaching experience and track record in nurturing talent, Lake’s presence in Atlanta suggests that an emphasis on strong coverage will remain a priority for the Falcons
Sources telling me that #JimmyLake will be the new @AtlantaFalcons DC. He is currently the @RamsNFL Asso Head Coach. He coached with the #Bucs and #Lions from 06'-2011 before returning back to college. He is the Former Head Coach of the University of Washington and has worked…
— Carl Dukes (@putemupcdukes) January 29, 2024
Following Kalen DeBoer’s appointment as head coach of the Huskies in 2022, Jimmy Lake took a season to refocus before deciding to join the Los Angeles Rams in 2023, under the guidance of head coach Sean McVay. Lake’s NFL journey began in 2006 when he served as an assistant defensive backs coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. H
e then spent the 2008 season with the Detroit Lions before reuniting with Raheem Morris, this time as part of Morris’ coaching staff during his tenure as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Lake held the position of defensive backs coach for the 2010 and 2011 seasons before venturing back into the college football sphere
The Rams will need to make strategic decisions regarding staffing to ensure that the progress made by their defense in 2023 is sustained. This can be a challenging endeavor considering the highly regarded backgrounds of both Raheem Morris and Jimmy Lake. As a result, it’s possible that they may opt to bring in an experienced candidate from another location to fill one or both of the positions directly below Sean McVay’s leadership.
