Falcons Fire DeBerg

January 25, 2000 / 3:58 PM EST / CBS/AP

Steve DeBerg, who came out of retirement to play for the Atlanta Falcons in 1998, lasted only one season as the team's quarterback coach.

DeBerg was fired Monday by head coach Dan Reeves, who made the change on his staff after a 5-11 season.

"He did a good job," Reeves said, "but I felt it was the best thing for the Atlanta Falcons to make this decision."

He declined to be more specific about his reasons for dismissing DeBerg.

"It's always difficult to make changes. I've been in that situation before myself," said Reeves, who was fired by Denver and the New York Giants. "I just felt it was best to make a change."

DeBerg, 46, held the job for one season after an 18-year career as a player, including an improbable stint as the Falcons' No. 2 quarterback during their Super Bowl season in 1998.

Atlanta slumped badly this season, ranking 27th out of 31 teams in total offense. A season-ending injury to All-Pro running back Jamal Anderson was a major factor.

DeBerg said he didn't expect to be fired and was disappointed that he wouldn't be returning to the Reeves' staff.

"But it's part of the business," DeBerg said. "When you go from playing in the Super Bowl to having the record we had, it's not uncommon for people to make moves with the coaching staff."

DeBerg said he thought Reeves made the change as the first step toward hiring a more experienced assistant to run the offense. Speculation has centered on former Dallas Cowboys coach Chan Gailey, who grew up with Reeves in the south Georgia town of Americus and has remained a close friend.

"I think Dan is trying to take the offense in a different direction," DeBerg said. "I know he is trying to get to the point where he has less coaching responsibilities. That's really the thing for him. He feels like if the right person came along, he'd turn the offense over to someone he has great confidence in."

Reeves talked with Gailey recently and didn't rule out adding him to the Falcons staff.

"I told him to stay in touch," Reeves said. "He has some other opportunities and he'll just have to see how they shake out."

Reeves doesn't plan any more changes on his staff, though offensive line coach Art Shell received permission to interview for the vacant head coaching job in New Orleans and secondary coach Ron Meeks plans to talk with Washington about an opening on its staff.

Falcons quarterback Chris Chandler expressed support for DeBerg when news of a possible change surfaced a few weeks ago. Chandler endured an injury-plagued seasn but still threw for 2,339 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Backup Tony Graziani had the highest rating of his three-year career, while No. 3 quarterback Danny Kanell had the second-best rating of his four-year career.

"It wasn't just the quarterbacks," DeBerg said. "Really, I don't know of any phase of our football team that played as well as it did the year before."

DeBerg retired as a player after the 1993 season, then spent two years on Reeves' staff in New York. DeBerg wasn't asked to follow Reeves to Atlanta in 1997, but he came out of retirement the following season when the Falcons were desperate for a backup.

Retiring again in 1999, DeBerg was given a spot on Reeves' staff. But it turned out to be another short-lived stint.

DeBerg isn't sure if he'll remain in coaching and he refused to criticize the man who fired him.

"I really enjoyed coaching and being associated with the Falcons," he said. "I understand. I wish the Falcons well. I have nothing but respect for Dan Reeves and that organization."