Falcons hire former Chiefs DC Bob Sutton, sign LB Bruce Carter

Feb. 11 (UPI) -- The Atlanta Falcons signed former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Bruce Carter to a one-year extension the team announced Monday.

The Falcons also hired former Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton, who recently parted ways with the franchise.

Carter joined the Falcons early in the 2018 season after injuries plagued Atlanta's defensive unit. In his first year with the team, the veteran linebacker made 21 combined stops and had 16 solo tackles. His best game came against the Washington Redskins in Week 9, when he had seven tackles.

The Dallas Cowboys selected Carter in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. The North Carolina product suffered multiple injuries during his time with the Cowboys before he moved on to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets.

"He picks up on stuff really quickly," Falcons linebacker Foyesade Oluokun said. "I listen to him when he's talking to coach and he helps our room out a lot because he has so much experience. We help him out with the calls and he helps us out with the plays to expect."

Carter has 327 tackles, 17 passes defensed, 14 tackles for losses and five interceptions in eight NFL seasons.

Sutton will join the Falcons in an assistant role. He will help the Falcons with clock management, in-game strategy, timeout usage and replay reviews. Atlanta head coach Dan Quinn assumed the defensive coordinator role with the team after parting ways with former defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel.

Sutton entered the NFL's coaching ranks in 2000 as the Jets' linebackers coach. He became the Jets' defensive coordinator and served in the position between 2006-08.

Sutton recently served as the Chiefs' defensive coordinator in 2013 and remained in that position for six years before being fired at the end of the season.