ATLANTA (Jan. 24, 2006) -- Michael Vick has a new position coach after the Falcons hired Bill Musgrave to tutor the quarterbacks.

Falcons coach Jim Mora wrote, "Hired Musgrave!" in an e-mail to The Associated Press on Jan. 24. He offered Musgrave the job as quarterbacks coach after an interview at team headquarters in Flowery Branch.

Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp was present for most of Mora's conversations with Musgrave. The Falcons sought a replacement for Mike Johnson, whom Mora fired Jan. 4.

Musgrave, 38, spent 2005 as quarterbacks coach of the Washington Redskins, who reorganized their offensive staff with the hiring of former Kansas City coordinator Al Saunders.

Matt Schaub, Vick's primary backup, played his sophomore and junior seasons under Musgrave at Virginia. Musgrave was the Cavaliers' offensive coordinator when Schaub was named the 2002 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year.

Last season marked the first time in Vick's three years as a full-time starter that Atlanta (8-8) missed the playoffs. The No. 1 overall draft pick of 2001, Vick ranked 25th in passer rating (73.1), which was five points lower than his final number in '04. Only three quarterbacks threw more fourth-quarter interceptions this year than Vick, who had five.

Vick made the Pro Bowl in 2004 and '05 under Johnson.

The Redskins allowed Musgrave to pursue other opportunities now that Saunders has the title of associate head coach-offense. Head coach Joe Gibbs, assistant head coach Joe Bugel and offensive coordinator Don Breaux already are heavily involved with Washington's playbook, even though Gibbs said that he will relinquish control to Saunders.

Musgrave was a backup to Joe Montana and Steve Young from 1991-94 in San Francisco and held the same role behind John Elway during a two-year stint that ended in '96.

He has coached quarterbacks with Oakland, Philadelphia, Carolina and Jacksonville.