Jimmy Lake's tenure as the defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons has come to an abrupt end after just one season, as the team announced his firing on Saturday. This decision follows a disappointing 8-9 season where the Falcons fell short of playoff contention, notably losing their final two games in overtime.

After a troubled coaching stint at the University of Washington, where he was dismissed midseason in 2021, Lake sought to revitalize his career in the NFL. However, despite the Falcons' positive offensive developments under former Husky quarterback Michael Penix Jr., Lake's defense struggled to perform effectively throughout the season.