Falcons' Smith hires Mularkey as offensive coordinator

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ATLANTA (AP) - The Atlanta Falcons hired former Buffalo coach Mike Mularkey as their offensive coordinator Friday night.

Mularkey, Miami's tight ends coach in this past season, is the latest hire by new coach Mike Smith, who named Brian Van Gorder the team's defensive coordinator Thursday.

Smith also announced that Emmitt Thomas will remain on staff as an assistant head coach and again work with the secondary. Thomas was the Falcons' secondary coach and went 1-2 as Atlanta's interim head coach following the sudden resignation of Bobby Petrino.

Mularkey, a former head coach with Buffalo, also has worked as an offensive coordinator with Miami (2006) and Pittsburgh (2001-03). Smith made the hire only one day after he was introduced as Atlanta's head coach.

``He is a well-respected coach in this league who has had success for many years at a high level as an offensive coordinator and head coach,'' Smith said. ``We share the same philosophies on the offensive side of the ball and I think he is a tremendous addition to our staff.''

Mularkey coached under Bill Cowher at Pittsburgh from 1996-2003, including the final three years as offensive coordinator. He's expected to emphasize a power running game in Atlanta, a philosophy Smith said Thursday he plans to follow.

Mularkey was a quality control coach for Tampa Bay in 1994 and coached the Buccaneers' tight ends the following season.

Mularkey played nine years in the league as a tight end with Minnesota (1983-88) and Pittsburgh (1989-91).

FanNation.com via AP
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January 26, 2008  10:46 AM ET
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good hire

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