A familiar name has come to the forefront in the Atlanta Falcons’ coaching search: veteran NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer.

Various media sources are following a report from the San Diego Union-Tribune that says Falcons management has talked to Schottenheimer, who was relieved of duties as Chargers coach after last season.

The Falcons also are weighing the possibility of hiring Buddy Nix as general manager. Nix is the Chargers’ assistant general manager.

The Chargers fired Schottenheimer in February. Despite leading the team to a 14-2 record, Schottenheimer was blamed for the team’s playoff failures. They replaced him with Norv Turner.

Schottenheimer previously coached the Cleveland Browns and the Kansas City Chiefs. He would replace Bobby Petrino, who quit as coach earlier this month to become coach at the University of Arkansas.

Schottenheimer and Nix were close in San Diego, and the Falcons appear ready to ax their current general manager, Rich McKay.

Chargers GM A.J. Smith told the Union-Tribune he had heard reports the Falcons’ interest in Schottenheimer, but denied knowing about the Nix reports.

“If true, I believe a Buddy Nix-Marty Schottenheimer team in Atlanta would be a perfect fit,” Smith told the newspaper. “Buddy got along well with Schottenheimer. They socialized together, went out to dinner, golfed together, sat together on the plane, talked football all the time.”

However, Schottenheimer downplayed the report, telling SI.com: “I have not heard a word from anybody about anything relating to the Falcons.

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“I really don’t know much about the Falcons situation, other than what has gone on of late out there. Nobody should have to go through what they’ve gone through.”

Schottenheimer is 64 and apparently is reluctant to return to coaching, SI.com reports.

The Falcons earlier approached former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher but were rebuffed. Now living near Charlotte, Cowher told SI.com: “I’m content with what I’m doing. ... I really don’t think I’m going to do it—coach again.”

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And on Wednesday, Bill Parcells spurned the Falcons for a job as vice president of football operations for the Miami Dolphins.

Several other names have popped up in reports as potential coaches for the Falcons. They include Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans; Mike Singletary, assistant head coach of the San Francisco 49ers; Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Smith; Rex Ryan, defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens; and New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniel.