Jerry Gray, a former NFL player, and a longtime coach has joined the Atlanta Falcons
as assistant head coach/defense, the team announced Tuesday.
Gray, 60, brings 26 years of NFL coaching experience to Atlanta, including eight as a
defensive coordinator and 16 as a defensive backs coach. In those 24 years as a
coordinator or defensive backs coach, his defenses have ranked in the top 10 in
scoring defense 10 times and in passing defense 13 times.
The addition of Gray, who had been Green Bay’s defensive backs coach and passing
game coordinator, forms a reunion with Smith.
The two worked together as assistants on Washington’s staff in 2007-08 and on
Tennessee’s staff from 2011-13, when Gray was the Titans defensive coordinator.
Gray also is a former defensive coordinator with Buffalo (2001-05).
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The hiring of Gray comes after the Falcons hired Ryan Nielsen as defensive
coordinator on Friday. Nielsen had been the New Orleans Saints co-defensive
coordinator.
When hiring Nielsen, the Falcons announced three defensive assistants will not
return next season: defensive line coach Gary Emanuel, outside linebackers coach
Ted Monachino and secondary coach Jon Hoke.
The Packers finished in the top 10 in passing defense in each of Gray’s three seasons
on the staff. The Packers ranked sixth in passing defense in 2022.
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