Ted Monachino is in his second season as outside linebackers coach for the Atlanta Falcons and his 16th season of coaching in the NFL after joining the Falcons on January 26, 2021.
In his first season with Atlanta, veteran outside linebacker Dante Fowler recorded a team-leading 4.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. Under Monachino's tutelage, fifth-round rookie Ade Ogundeji started 11 games and finished with 32 total tackles, 1.0 sack, five tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, one fumble recovery and one blocked field goal.
Monachino has coaching experience at both the collegiate and professional levels, including a Super Bowl XLVII championship with the Baltimore Ravens. He came to Atlanta having most recently spent two seasons (2019-20) as a senior defensive assistant and outside linebackers coach for the Chicago Bears. In two years under Monachino, Bears outside linebacker Khalil Mack has recorded the sixth-most sacks (17.5) and tied for the second-most forced fumbles (eight) among linebackers in the NFL over that span and earned Pro Bowl honors in each of the past two seasons.
In 2018, Monachino returned to his alma mater – the University of Missouri – as a senior defensive assistant where he helped defensive lineman Terry Beckner Jr., linebacker Cale Garrett and defensive back DeMarkus Acy earn second-team All-SEC honors.
From 2016-17, Monachino served as the defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts after spending six seasons coaching linebackers (2012-15) and outside linebackers (2010-11) for the Baltimore Ravens where he coached with current Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees.
Over his final two seasons in Baltimore, Monachino helped develop Ravens linebacker C.J. Mosley into one of the most productive young players at the position. In 2014, Mosley became the first rookie in Ravens history to be named to the Pro Bowl. Monachino also coached Pro Bowler Elvis Dumervil to a franchise-record 17.0 sacks in 2014 as he and Suggs (12.0) combined for the most sacks of any duo in the NFL (29.0) that season. In 2013, Suggs (10.0) and Dumervil (9.5) totaled 19.5 sacks on the season and Suggs was selected to his sixth Pro Bowl.
In Monachino's first season as linebackers coach in 2012, Baltimore ranked second in red zone defense and allowed the second-fewest passing touchdowns (15) en route to the Super Bowl XLVII victory.
In 2011 Suggs was named The Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler after leading the AFC with a career-high 14.0 sacks and an NFL-best seven forced fumbles. The defensive unit allowed the league's third-fewest points (16.6 avg.) for the fourth-straight year (tying an NFL record for finishing in the top three) and finished with the league's second-fewest rushing yards allowed (92.6 avg.).
In his first season in Baltimore in 2010, the Ravens allowed the NFL's third-fewest points (16.9 avg.) for the third consecutive year as Suggs led the team with 11.0 sacks and was selected to the Pro Bowl.
Prior to his tenure in Baltimore, Monachino coached the defensive line for the Jacksonville Jaguars for two seasons (2008-09) and served as an assistant defensive line coach from 2006-07.
Monachino coached for five seasons (2001-05) at Arizona State, serving as the defensive line coach for the Sun Devils. He was pivotal in the development of Suggs, who was drafted by the Ravens in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Suggs set the NCAA single-season record for sacks (24.0) and tackles for loss (31.5) in 2002 en route to winning the Bronko Nagurski and Lombardi Awards and the Morris Trophy for the Pac-10's top lineman.
Monachino also had coaching stints at Boise State (2000), Missouri State (1999), James Madison (1998) and Texas Christian (1996-97).
He began his coaching career in Missouri at the high school level at Hannibal (Mo.) High School (1994-95) and Pacific (Mo.) High School (1991-93).
Monachino earned a degree in health and physical education from Missouri in 1990. He was a three-year letterman for the Tigers and received Academic All-Big 8 honors twice before serving as a graduate assistant at TCU from 1996-97.
Monachino and his wife, Amy, have two sons. Sam and Michael, and a daughter, Mikalee, who is married to Preston Brunz. They have one son, Sawyer.
