If not Atlanta, looks like Austin will be with Lions

If Teryl Austin does not get the Atlanta Falcons' head coaching job, he'll be back calling plays as defensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions.

That's the latest on a swirling coaching front after Austin pulled out of a scheduled interview with the Denver Broncos today.

Austin's decision to not interview with the Broncos, which was first reported by ESPN, was as much about what appears to be happening in Denver as with his own prospects.

Austin had a second interview with the Falcons on Thursday and, by all accounts, impressed the group of executives that included team president Rich McKay, general manager Thomas Dimitroff and assistant GM Scott Pioli.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank did not take part Thursday's interview, though Austin met with Blank when he first sat down with the team last week.

The Falcons, according to reports, still are waiting to interview Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn a second time and could choose between Austin and Quinn.

Quinn cannot re-interview with the Falcons until after this week's NFC championship game between the Seahawks and Green Bay Packers. If the Seahawks win, he cannot be hired for any job until after the Super Bowl.

While the Falcons' job remains in flux, two other teams appear to be close to filling their vacancies.

The Broncos are targeting Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak as their next head coach, though Cincinnati Bengals defensive backs coach Vance Joseph and former Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone also are scheduled to interview in Denver.

In Chicago, former Broncos coach John Fox reportedly is close to a deal to replace Marc Trestman as Bears head coach.

Austin interviewed for openings with the Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Bills and Bears, but the 49ers and Bills have filled their vacancies

If Austin gets the Atlanta job, he's expected to bring Broncos assistant Adam Gase, a former Lions assistant and Michigan native, with him as offensive coordinator, provided that Gase is not hired as Broncos head coach.

Baltimore Ravens linebackers coach Ted Monachino is expected to be Austin's defensive coordinator.

Austin, 49, helped transform the Lions into one of the NFL's best defenses this year, in just his first season as coordinator.

Before coming to Detroit, he served as the defensive backs coach for the Baltimore Ravens, Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks, reaching a Super Bowl at each stop, and as Urban Meyer's defensive coordinator at Florida for one year.

Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.