Falcons bring in Rams assistant Lake as DC

The Atlanta Falcons announced Los Angeles Rams assistant head coach Jimmy Lake as their new defensive coordinator on Monday.

A former college defensive coordinator and head coach at Washington, Lake worked with new Atlanta sideline boss Raheem Morris in Los Angeles in 2023. The 47-year-old helped the Huskies build a premier defense during his time with the school from 2014-21.

Lake also had coaching stints as an assistant on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2006-07, 2010-11) and Detroit Lions (2008). He served as the assistant defensive backs coach for the Bucs in 2007 and crossed paths with Morris, then the team's DBs coach.

Lake will replace defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, who recently left to take the same job with the Jacksonville Jaguars. In 2023, Atlanta's defense ranked 18th in points and 11th in yards allowed after ranking 23rd and 27th, respectively, in those categories in 2022.

On Monday, the Falcons also officially announced former Rams pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Zac Robinson as their new offensive coordinator.

Despite bringing in two new coordinators from the Rams, Morris won't change his special teams coach in his new staff. Marquice Williams is returning for a fourth season with Atlanta, the team said.

Morris was hired as Atlanta's head coach to replace Arthur Smith on Jan. 25 after serving as the Rams' defensive coordinator the last three seasons.