The Atlanta Falcons have hired Saints co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen to be their new defensive coordinator, Matt Urben of USA Today's Falcons Wire reports.

Nielsen, 43, interviewed with the Falcons for the vacancy on Tuesday. He joined the Saints coaching staff as the defensive line coach in 2017 when Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot was in the front office.

In 2021, Nielsen was promoted to assistant head coach and then named co-defensive coordinator in 2022. The Falcons are replacing veteran defensive coordinator Dean Pees, who retired in the offseason after spending two years in Atlanta.

It was reported that the Falcons were eyeing Steve Wilks for the position, and previously conducted interviews with Brian Flores and Vic Fangio.

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