Atlanta Falcons Defensive Coordinator Dean Pees Retires At 73

Atlanta Falcons Defensive Coordinator Dean Pees Retires At 73

On a day when plenty of coaches part ways with their teams, Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees goes out on his own terms and is retiring, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

#Falcons DC Dean Pees just informed players he is retiring, per sources.

Pees, 73, had been weighing the decision in recent weeks. Expect a wide search for Atlanta’s next defensive coordinator. pic.twitter.com/DwjPZAOhxZ

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 9, 2023

Pees served as the Falcons’ defensive coordinator for the past two seasons, he goes out on his own terms after a lengthy coaching career that began in 1979.

Pees started his coaching career in 1979 as the defensive coordinator for Findlay. After years of bouncing around with titles that ranged from defensive coordinator to secondary coach, and schools such as Miami of Ohio, Navy, Toledo, Notre Dame, and Michigan State, Pees became the head coach at Kent State from 1998 to 2003, where he went 17 and 51.

He started his NFL coaching career with the New England Patriots in 2004 and stayed with them through the 2009 season. He began as their linebackers coach and was later promoted to the role of defensive coordinator. He then left for the Baltimore Ravens, where he served as their inside linebackers coach from 2010 to 2011, and then their defensive coordinator from 2012 to 2017. He then went to the Tennessee Titans to be their defensive coordinator from 2018 to 2019.

Finally, we get to Atlanta. The final stop for Dean Pees’ coaching career, he followed Arthur Smith to Atlanta from Tennessee when Smith was hired as the head coach. Pees will retire from the NFL after nearly two decades. He goes out as a two-time Super Bowl Champion (XXXIX and XLVII).

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The Atlanta Falcons finished the year sixth worst in defensive yards, and tenth worst in points allowed per game. The Falcons posted a thank you message to Dean Pees on Twitter. Pees is going out on his own terms, which is something nice to see especially on the Monday after the NFL regular season final.

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