Longtime NFL and Falcons coach Greg Knapp has died
A staple and well-regarded coach in the NFL for over 20 years, Knapp had two separate stints with the Falcons in his career. He died Thursday at 58 years of age.
Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
Greg Knapp was a Falcons coach not once but twice in his career, presiding over the hugely successful 2004 DVD offense, the injury-marred 2005 season and Michael Vick’s 2006 swan song in Atlanta. He returned in 2018 to coach Matt Ryan and Matt Schaub and was praised by both veterans for his work in the quarterback room, and when Dan Quinn and Dirk Koetter left, Knapp took on a job as the New York Jets quarterbacks coach and the man who was to be responsible for developing #2 overall pick Zach Wilson.
The Atlanta Falcons entered the 2021 NFL Draft with a plethora of holes to fill. After three consecutive losing seasons, the Falcons franchise has made massive efforts to reconstruct a tumultuous front office. Although fans are understandably raising questions, franchise quarterback Matt Ryan is giving some answers on his future in Atlanta.
Matt Ryan says he has a lot of football left
Ryan is entering his 14th season in Atlanta. He knows he is closer to the end of his career, but he has no plans for retirement any time soon.
“I understand I’m not going to play forever. But, I also have the mindset that I’m still playing really well and have a lot of good football in front of me. But, the most important thing to me is it comes from the belief in the building. The people who are actually making decisions and the people who are with you day-to-day,” he said.
Falcons' wide receiver Russell Gage changes jersey number batonrougepost.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from batonrougepost.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Best players available for Falcons to draft on Day 2
Atlanta Falcons
02 May 2021, 18:57 GMT+10 A list of the best players available as Day 2 of the NFL Draft get underway on Friday night Kelsey Conway
With Day 2 of the NFL Draft about to get underway and the Falcons owning the No. 35 pick in the second round and No. 68 pick in the third round, there s plenty of opportunity for Atlanta to continue to add talented players to its roster.
The Falcons selected tight end Kyle Pitts with the No. 4 overall pick on Thursday night. Pitts was the best player available when general manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Arthur Smith were on the clock so we should expect the same approach heading into Friday night.