Falcons to interview Ryan for prez role; eager to talk to Harbaugh - ESPN

ATLANTA — The Falcons will interview former franchise quarterback Matt Ryan, among others, for a new role entitled the «president of football,» owner Arthur Blank said Thursday at a news conference.

The president of football position will be hired first, and Blank has interviews with several candidates in the next few days. Whomever gets hired as president of football will lead the interviews for the head coach and general manager candidates, Blank said. The Falcons fired head coach Raheem Morris and GM Terry Fontenot on Sunday night.

One of those coaching candidates could be John Harbaugh, who was fired earlier this week by the Baltimore Ravens.

«John has been one of the most successful coaches in the last 20 years in our league,» Blank said. «He has won at every level. And so, he would certainly be a candidate who we'd want to spend some time with. Whether or not [he has] an interest in Atlanta, I don't know.»

The firm Sportsology is assisting in the general manager search and the firm JRZ Partners will assist in the coaching search. But the president of football will ultimately be leading those searches, Blank said, and will oversee both the coach and general manager once both are hired.

Blank said the president of football will hold the coach and general manager accountable and report directly to Blank himself. As for who will get the final say on decision-making once the roles are filled, Blank acknowledged that coach and general manager candidates would not be keen on ceding authority to the president of football, so those positions will remain the primary decision-makers in their respective roles.

«Obviously, you've still got to hire a great coach, a great general manager, and the president of football will not be