Positional/Coordinator Interviews

A 28-year coaching veteran, Paul Dunn will continue to assist Paul Boudreau with the offensive line in his fourth season in Atlanta in 2011.

Dunn’s diligent work with the offensive line continued to be a bright spot for the Falcons offense last year. Some of the offensive accomplishments achieved through the strong play of the line included setting a team record for most first downs in a season with 353 and scoring the third-most points in club history with 414.

The teams offensive line also helped the Birds rank third in the NFL in time of possession (32:15), third down conversions (46.7%) and scoring efficiency (scoring on 70 of 178 possessions).

A proud moment for Dunn came last season when T Tyson Clabo was named to the Pro Bowl to become the first offensive lineman afforded such honors since 1998. With Clabo’s addition, the Falcons totaled an NFC team-high six Pro Bowlers on offense. Through the solid blocking of Dunn’s offensive line, QB Matt Ryan threw for a career-high 3,705 yards and 28 touchdowns while setting a new team mark with 357 completions. In addition, WR Roddy White broke the club record for receptions in a season with a League-high 115 and RB Michael Turner pounded his way to another Pro Bowl with an NFC-best 1,317 rushing yards.

In Dunn’s first campaign in 2008, the offensive line set a franchise record for the fewest sacks allowed in a season with just 17 (allowing one sack per every 25.5 plays). The following season the trend continued as the unit totaled an average of one sack per every 21.1 plays in 2009, which was the second-best mark for a season in club annals. The line gave up only 23 sacks last year en route to amassing the third-highest net passing yards in a Falcons season with 3,725.

Dunn’s first campaign in 2008 saw the offensive line pave the way for the NFL’s second ranked rushing offense (152.7 yards per game) and Pro Bowl running back Michael Turner. Turner ranked second in the NFL in rushing (1,699 yards), marking the third- highest rushing total in Falcons history. Under the guidance of Dunn, the offensive line also assisted Turner crossing the goal line a franchise-high 17 times and passing the 200-yard plateau on two occasions. The Falcons’ offensive line also provided time for NFL Rookie of the Year QB Matt Ryan as he threw for 3,440 yards (on 265 of 434 passing) with 16 touchdowns.

In 2009, Atlanta’s offensive line blocked for a passing attack that totaled 3,571 net passing yards, the sixth-highest total in team history (at that time) and the highest mark since the 1996 season. The Falcons also averaged 4.2 rushing yards per carry behind the stout line as Atlanta produced a 9-7 record and back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in franchise history.

Prior to joining the Falcons, Dunn served as the Offensive Line Coach (2005-2007) for the Pittsburgh Panthers, his alma mater. In 2007, Pitt’s offensive line opened holes for freshman running back LeSean McCoy to rush for 1,328 yards while breaking freshman records in touchdowns (14) and points (90), which were previously held by Tony Dorsett. The offensive line also paved the way for LaRod Stephens-Howling who currently serves as a running back and kick returner for the Arizona Cardinals. The Panthers ranked 16th nationally in 2006 in fewest tackles for loss allowed (4.5 per game) under the guidance of Dunn. Before returning to Pittsburgh, Dunn was the Running Game Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach for the Kentucky Wildcats from 2003-04.

Dunn also registered a five-year coaching stint at Kansas State University as the Running Game Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach. During Dunn’s tenure, the Wildcats ranked among the nation’s top five in scoring four times, including a national-best 48 points per game in 1998. Dunn coached four Kansas State players who earned All-America honors, including first-team honoree Nick Leckey who played for the New Orleans Saints. Additionally, Ryan Lijia earned All-Big 12 honors and was a starting guard for the Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts during the 2006 season. Dunn also guided running back Darren Sproles, who is a current running back for the New Orleans Saints. Sproles graduated ranked 11th on the all-time college rushing yards list and sixth in all-purpose yards.

Dunn earned his coaching start at Pittsburgh as a graduate assistant in 1983, prior to joining Penn State as a graduate assistant under Head Coach Joe Paterno (1984-1985). A three-year letterman during his collegiate career at Pitt (1978-82), Dunn was a member of four teams that finished in the Top 10, including two that finished second in at least one major poll. He played with former Falcons number one draft pick Bill Fralic. The Panthers went 11-1 in three consecutive years (1979- 81), including the 1980 campaign when Pitt was named the nation’s top team by the New York Times.

Dunn and his wife, Melody, have been married 26 years and have three children, two daughters, Katlyn and Kelsey, and one son, Casey.

Paul Dunn’s Coaching Background

2008-2011 -- Assistant Offensive Line Coach // Atlanta Falcons
2005-2007 -- Offensive Line Coach // University of Pittsburgh
2003-2004 -- Run Game Coord./Offensive Line Coach // University of Kentucky
1998-2002 -- Run Game Coord./Offensive Line Coach // Kansas State University
1996-1997 -- Offensive Line Coach // Vanderbilt University
1994-1995 -- Offensive Line Coach // University of Cincinnati
1990-1993 -- Offensive Line Coach // University of Maine
1989 -- Offensive Line Coach // Rutgers University
1986-1988 -- Offensive Line Coach // Edinboro University
1984-1985 -- Graduate Assistant // Penn State University
1983 -- Graduate Assistant // University of Pittsburgh

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