Due to his wife, The coach of the Atlanta Falcons has officially announced his retirement
Dean Pees, the defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons, announced his retirement on Monday, deciding to hang up the coaching boots after 50 years in the field.
After spending two years in Atlanta following professional stints with the New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, and Tennessee Titans, Pees, 73, was the oldest defensive coordinator in the NFL.
For the third time in his career, Pees has announced his retirement. On Monday afternoon, he declared that he is “done with coaching,” despite the fact that Atlanta’s defense has improved significantly in the second half of the season.
Why now for Pees, with the unit thriving and an additional year remaining on his contract?
“No. 1 – there comes a point in time, I’ve been in this thing so long and been around so many players that extended their careers just a hair too long,” Pees said. “People who have had amazing careers may have lost a little bit towards the end and begun to drift, lose speed, or experience other physical setbacks, which could lead to a less than ideal outcome. It saddens me that people perceive them in that way, considering their impressive professional accomplishments.
“Right now, my ego and my heart to tell me to stay, but my mind and my body tell me it’s time.”
Pees’s year was not without incident off the field. On December 18, during pregame warm-ups, he collided with Rashid Shaheed of the New Orleans Saints, a punt returner. The veteran coach was stretchered off and taken to the hospital for precautionary measures, but he was able to return later that day.
Pees’ problems, however, didn’t end there. He revealed that he contracted an illness in Los Angeles during the second week of the season and didn’t recover until December 20. He mentioned that it’s “hard to put in 85 hours a week” at his age and that he had trouble falling asleep.
Pees decided it was time to move on as a result, in part because he isn’t sure if he fits the Falcons’ timeline.
“I think this thing is trending in such a great direction,” Pees said. “I don’t want to be a deterrent to this defense or this team.”
Pees made this decision for a variety of professional reasons, but he ultimately chose it for personal reasons.
Pees revealed that he and his spouse, Melody, deliberated over the advantages and disadvantages of remaining and departing, ultimately deciding on retirement as the best course of action.
Pees’s decision was ultimately influenced by his genuine value for spending time with his family, rather than by the idea of leaving coaching at a high level.
“I owe it to my wife and my family to give them time,” Pees replied. “It just bothered me that my wife and family have given up so much for my career, and you never know how much longer you have at this age. We wanted to travel after the Tennessee incident, but COVID struck and we were unable to take advantage of that opportunity. I know she would enjoy it.”
Pees disclosed that he had “lost a couple of coaching friends” this year, which only served to clarify and give context to his choice to spend more time with his family.
Pees said, “It bothered me a little.” When did you stop trying to do some of the things you wanted to do with your family? Several of my grandsons are currently participating in football and other sports, and I would like to watch them. Because of my line of work, I didn’t always get to watch my own children play; at least these days, I’d prefer to be able to watch my grandchildren play and be more involved in their lives.”
Pees opted to hang up the call sheet, and it seems to be permanent this time, following 18 years of coaching in the NFL and more than 30 years in high school and college.
Pees is now prepared to relax and watch the game with the hope that he will have many years to witness the Falcons’ formidable defense.
