Falcons add Jets interim DC Frank Bush to staff as new linebackers coach

The Falcons are adding an experienced defensive coach to their growing staff, with interim Jets defensive coordinator, assistant head coach and linebackers coach Frank Bush joining the team officially this morning. Bush will join up as the linebackers coach.

In addition, the team announced they are keeping offensive assistant Danny Breyer on the staff. Breyer spent the year in that same role in 2020 on Dirk Koetter’s offensive staff.

Bush is an interesting name and figures to be a prominent piece of a rebuild defensive coaching group. He spent two years as a player with the Oilers before transitioning into a coaching career in the NFL, and Bush has now been a linebackers coach for seven different teams in his long career. He was the defensive coordinator for the Houston Texans in 2009 and 2010—that team had a decent pass defense and quality run defense in 2009 before cratering in 2010—and has been an assistant head coach at three different stops. The Falcons are getting a coach with a long track record of working with linebackers, in other words, and someone who would be able to step in as defensive coordinator and/or in an assistant head coach role if needed.

Unsurprisingly, Bush overlapped with Arthur Smith in Tennessee when he was the linebackers coach there back in 2011 and 2012, so this hire is about experience, track record, and of course connections.

The Falcons also made the hires of new offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford and running backs coach Charles London official. Those moves were reported today and yesterday, respectively.

Welcome Frank Bush and these coaches officially to the staff.