The Atlanta Falcons are bringing in more than just their new head coach from the Los Angeles Rams.
In one of the first hires for new Falcons coach Raheem Morris, he has named Zach Robinson as the team's offensive coordinator, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Robinson, 37, has been the Rams' quarterbacks coach and running back coordinator for the past two seasons while working his way up the coaching ranks there.
The former NFL and Oklahoma State quarterback has spent his entire coaching career with the Rams, starting as an assistant quarterbacks coach in 2019, becoming an assistant receivers coach in 2020, and again serving as an assistant quarterbacks coach in 2021 before being promoted to the game. Scrolling. Coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2022.
Among the skill position players Robinson will have to work with are running backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgaier, receiver Drake London, and tight ends Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith, who are all under contract for 2024. All five of the team's starting offensive linemen from last season are also under contract, Including Pro Bowl right guard Chris Lindstrom.
The question for Robinson will be at quarterback. Atlanta has both of last season's starters, Desmond Reeder and Taylor Heinicke, under contract for 2024. However, one of the reasons the Falcons fired Arthur Smith after three seasons on Jan. 8 was the play of the quarterbacks, which team owner Arthur Blank described as a player middle. “minus.”
Robinson has worked with Matthew Stafford the past three seasons and also with Jared Goff during Robinson's first season with the Rams in 2019. Now, he may be developing a younger quarterback, depending on how the Falcons decide to handle their quarterback room.
Robinson was selected in the seventh round in 2010 by the New England Patriots as a quarterback out of Oklahoma State. He spent time with New England, Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals but never threw a pass in a regular-season NFL game.
He then became the Texans' quarterback development coach and worked for analytics site Pro Football Focus before turning to coaching, where he was hired by the Rams.
Atlanta also retained special teams coordinator Marquise Williams on Saturday, a league source told ESPN, allowing the Falcons to retain one of the best special teams coordinators in the league and also providing continuity on staff as the club transitions from Smith to Morris.
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