While the Falcons may have hired a pair of offensive minds in new head coach Arthur Smith and offensive coordinator Dave Ragone, they’ll be turning to a former NFL quarterback to (partly) handle their passing game. The Falcons announced today that T.J. Yates has been hired as their passing game specialist. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle was first with the news (via Twitter) yesterday.
Yates, a 2011 fifth-round pick out of North Carolina, managed to put together a seven-year career, including stints with the Texans (thrice), Falcons, Dolphins, and Bills. He last played in 2017 with the Texans, when he garnered three starts. In total, Yates finished his career having appeared in 22 games (10 starts), completing 55.2-percent of his passes for 2,057 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
Yates joined the Texans coaching staff in 2019, working his way up from offensive assistant to assistant quarterbacks coach. The 33-year-old is somewhat familiar with his new personnel; he was the backup to Matt Ryan during the 2014 season. Yates will work alongside Smith, Ragone, and new quarterbacks coach Charles London.
The Falcons also announced the hiring of two more coaches on Saturday. Lanier Goethie, who most recently served as linebackers coach at Duke, will join Atlanta as a defensive assistant. Nick Perry, who spent the past four years at Alabama, is joining the team as an assistant defensive backs coach.
Jeez I feel old now I remember going to games in chapel hill where he was playing
“T.J. Yates has been hired as their passing game specialist”.
He had a passer rating less than 60 in 10 of the 20 career games where he attempted a pass…but somehow he’s a “specialist”.
Goes right up there with Ragone. Ragone wasn’t any better.
it don’t matter how T.J played. The guy might be a great teacher. Just look at Jordan Palmer Carson’s brother. Jordan is a great QB instructor and helped out alot of QB’s. So we’ll see what happens.
Noodle arm QBs end up being the best teachers it seems. Arthur stocking up on QBs in his stable.
Noodle arm QBs and light hitting catchers or shortstops always make the best coaches in their sports.
Honestly, I think it’s because guys who lack natural talent have to be smart enough to make the most of what they have just to go pro.
I’d say that’s accurate.
Great point. Very true proven over and over.
Yates of Hell
Yates did have a few clutch performances with the Texans and filled in suddenly in a few situations (once in a playoff game as a third string QB, if I remember correctly).
He backed up Schaub in Houston, who until recently was Atlanta’s backup. Maybe there’s some easy translation there.