Falcons coach compared to Houston Texans star coordinator

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons’ head coaching search ended in January with Raheem Morris as the pick, but Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik wasn’t far behind on the list of finalists.

Ultimately, the Falcons got Morris — and might have their own version of Slowik on their team anyway.

To fill Atlanta’s vacant offensive coordinator position, Morris brought in quarterbacks coach Zac Robinson from the Los Angeles Rams, giving Robinson his first chance to call plays during the regular season.

Inside the Falcons’ headquarters in Flowery Branch, Robinson was well-liked by players and coaches. His reputation was beginning to grow outside as well.

And according to Pro Football Focus, Robinson could follow in Slowik’s footsteps as an impressive young offensive mind who not only significantly improves the Falcons’ production this fall, but also finds himself receiving head coaching opportunities next spring.

“If any coach is most likely to have a Slowik-like first season as an offensive coordinator, it’s Robinson,” PFF’s Bradley Locker said. “With Kirk Cousins, Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts and other talent in Robinson’s palm, expect the Falcons’ offense to soar in 2024.

“And a lot of heads will turn to Robinson as the next big thing in coaching.”

Robinson, 37, spent the last five seasons in Los Angeles, serving as an assistant quarterbacks coach in 2019 and 2021, assistant receivers coach in 2020 and quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator the last two years.

Prior to joining the Rams, Robinson worked at Pro Football Focus as a senior analyst, evaluating professional and college quarterbacks.

Robinson was a three-year starter at quarterback for Oklahoma State University, where he attended from 2005 to 2009, and was selected by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft.

He also had brief professional stints with the Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals.

Robinson’s path has been slightly different than that of Slowik, 37, who played wide receiver at Michigan Tech from 2005-09 and began his coaching career in 2011.

But the two share time at Pro Football Focus, as Slowik worked for the company from 2014 to 2016. He didn’t have any overlap with Robinson, who started in 2017, but their time as media analysts remains a rare connection among most NFL play-by-play commentators.

And if Robinson is as impressive in his first year calling plays as Slowik, who received multiple head coaching interviews after revolutionizing the Houston Texans’ offense in 2023, the Falcons will almost certainly be better off because of it.