Tracker for Atlanta Falcons Head Coach

The Atlanta Falcons have hired two-time NFL Coach of the Year, Kevin Stefanski. Learn more about the hire here.

The Atlanta Falcons parted ways with head coach Raheem Morris after two seasons and a combined record of 16-18. According to the team, ZRG Partners will assist with the search for the team’s next head coach.

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The termination of Morris was just one of several major structural changes to the organization. The first major hurdle will be hiring a new president of football, and many have speculated that this could be the role for former MVP-winning quarterback Matt Ryan. That news may be coming over the next few days.

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See below for a running list of announcements for the Falcons' vacant position.

This list will be updated.

Falcons Head Coach Candidates for 2026:

JOE BRADY, BUFFALO BILLS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady | Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

FIRST REPORTED - Wednesday, January 14th by Albert Breer.

INTERVIEW DATE - First interview set for Sunday, January 18th per Albert Breer.

QUICK BIO - Joe Brady is the offensive play-caller for the Buffalo Bills, where he has been since 2022. He initially joined the Bills as quarterbacks coach, but was promoted after the 2023 season. He has past stops with the Carolina Panthers (2020-21) and the LSU Tigers (2019), where he won the national title with quarterback Joe Burrow. Brady's Buffalo team plays in the Divisional Round on Saturday.

MORE INFO - More information on Joe Brady is to follow.

ANTONIO PIERCE, FORMER LAS VEGAS RAIDERS HEAD COACH

Former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

FIRST REPORTED - Wednesday, January 14th by Mike Garafolo

INTERVIEW DATE - First interview was Friday, January 16th

QUICK BIO - Antonio Pierce took over the Raiders head coaching job in 2023 on an interim basis, but was hired full-time after that season. His time with the silver and black ended after just one season on the job, and he left with a 9-17 overall record. He has since been on television, working alongside Matt Ryan on CBS, but is looking to get back into football (he has also interviewed with the Giants). Pierce, another defensive-minded coach, was known as a coach who was popular with his players.

MORE INFO - More information on Antonio Pierce can be found here.

JESSE MINTER, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

FIRST REPORTED - Tuesday, January 13th by Albert Breer.

INTERVIEW DATE - First interview was Thursday, January 15th

QUICK BIO - Jesse Minter is another defensive-minded option for the Falcons who has emerged this week. Minter, the Chargers' defensive coordinator, has quietly emerged as a hot candidate in this cycle (eight teams have now requested to speak with him). He has spent an extended amount of time with both John (2017-2020) and Jim Harbaugh, and joined the latter's staff at Michigan before following him to the Chargers. After inheriting a struggling unit, the defensive playcaller has turned the Chargers into a top-10 unit and could get a shot to be a head coach in 2026.

MORE INFO - More information on Jesse Minter can be found here.

JOHN HARBAUGH, FORMER BALTIMORE RAVENS HEAD COACH - HIRED BY NY GIANTS

Former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh | Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

UPDATE - John Harbaugh reportedly agreed to become the next head coach for the New York Giants on Thursday, January 15th.

FIRST REPORTED - Monday, January 12th by the team.

INTERVIEW DATE - First interview was Monday, Jan 12 (preliminary virtual interview).

QUICK BIO - John Harbaugh, who was fired by the Ravens last Tuesday after 18 years in Baltimore, instantly became a hot target for the teams searching for their next head coach. Several teams were quick to reach out to the coach’s representatives. There is a good reason why. In his time with the Ravens, Harbaugh became a consistent winner. The veteran head coach departed Baltimore having won 193 games (which ranks 12th all-time) and led the franchise to 11 double-digit win seasons, with 12 playoff appearances and a Super Bowl in 2012-13.

MORE INFO - More information on John Harbaugh can be found here.

MIKE MCDANIEL, FORMER MIAMI DOLPHINS HEAD COACH

Former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

FIRST REPORTED - Monday, January 12th by Tom Pelissero.

INTERVIEW DATE - First interview was Monday, Jan 12.

QUICK BIO - Mike McDaniel is the former head coach of the Miami Dolphins and is considered one of the NFL's better offensive play callers. He went 7-10 with the Dolphins this season, and Miami missed the playoffs for the second year in a row. Over his four seasons in Miami, he finished with a 35-33 record. One interesting connection is that McDaniel was an assistant in Atlanta when Matt Ryan won the MVP in 2016.

MORE INFO - More information on Mike McDaniel can be found here.

EJIRO EVERO, CAROLINA PANTHERS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Former Los Angeles Rams safeties coach Ejiro Evero | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

FIRST REPORTED - Sunday, January 11th by Tom Pelissero.

INTERVIEW DATE - TBD

QUICK BIO - Ejiro Evero just finished his third season with the Falcons' division rival in Carolina. His unit finished No. 16 in total defense, 18th in scoring (22.4 points per game), and 20th in expected points per play (+0.02), marking a significant bounce-back effort after a disastrous 2024 season that was marred by several injuries. Evero previously served as an assistant coach for the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and San Francisco 49ers.

MORE INFO - More information on Ejiro Evero can be found here.

ADEN DURDE, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

FIRST REPORTED - Saturday, January 10th by Tom Pelissero.

INTERVIEW DATE - First interview was Saturday, Jan 10.

QUICK BIO - Aden Durde, who is originally from London, has been in the NFL for nine seasons. He joined the Seahawks ahead of the 2024 season after three years in Dallas as the Cowboys' defensive line coach. According to The Athletic's Josh Kendall, Durde spent time in Atlanta in 2016 as part of the Bill Walsh NFL diversity coaching fellowship. Durde led one of the NFL's best defenses in 2025, with the Seahawks leading the NFL in scoring (17.2 points per game) and second in expected points added per play (-0.17).

MORE INFO - More information on Aden Durde can be found here.

JEFF HAFLEY, GREEN BAY PACKERS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley | Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

FIRST REPORTED - Thursday, January 8th by Albert Breer

INTERVIEW DATE - First interview with the team on Thursday, January 15th

QUICK BIO - Hafley has been coaching at the NFL level since 2012, when he broke into the league with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He then bounced around the league, with stops in Cleveland and San Francisco as a defensive backs coach, before heading back down to the college ranks in 2019. He served as the Ohio State co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for one season before taking a head coaching position at Boston College.

MORE INFO - More information on the Jeff Hafley can be found here.

ROBERT SALEH, SAN FRANCISCO 49ers DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh | Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

FIRST REPORTED - Thursday, January 8th by Albert Breer

INTERVIEW DATE - TBD.

QUICK BIO - Robert Saleh is the defensive coordinator of the 49ers, where he has been for five seasons (two stints). In between those two was a three-season run as the head coach of the New York Jets. Saleh has spent 21 years in the NFL on the defensive side of the ball and is a widely respected coach who will get plenty of interest this cycle. Despite several injuries to his unit this season, he has still managed to lead the 49ers to a steady overall performance.

MORE INFO - More information on the Robert Saleh can be found here.

VANCE JOSEPH, DENVER BRONCOS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

FIRST REPORTED - Tuesday, January 6th by Diana Russini

INTERVIEW DATE - TBD.

QUICK BIO - Vance Joseph is wrapping up his fifth season (including his first stint) in Denver, and third as their defensive coordinator -- he was previously the head coach of the Broncos from 2017-2018. Joseph has led one of the NFL's top defensive units this season, leading the NFL in sacks and finishing in the top three in total defense and points allowed.

MORE INFO - More information on the Vance Joseph can be found here.

KLINT KUBIAK, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Former New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

FIRST REPORTED - Monday, January 5th

INTERVIEW DATE - First interview was on Saturday, Jan 10.

QUICK BIO - Kubiak is in his first season with the Seahawks and has enjoyed an exceptional season. His offense finished No. 3 in points per game and No. 8 in total yards. Sam Darnold had another fantastic season, completing 67.7 percent of his passes for 4,048 yards with 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions as the Seahawks finished atop the NFC at 14-3. He is expected to be one of the hotter candidates and could be a good option for the franchise to get the most out of Michael Penix Jr. next season.

MORE INFO - More information on the Klint Kubiak can be found here.

ANTHONY WEAVER, MIAMI DOLPHINS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

FIRST REPORTED - Monday, January 5th

INTERVIEW DATE - First interview was on Saturday, Jan 10.

QUICK BIO - Weaver is considered to be an up-and-coming coach who turned a solid playing career into a coaching career, climbing the NFL ranks to become a defensive coordinator. The 2025 season marks Weaver's 21st in the NFL, his 14th as a coach after seven as a player. Miami finished No. 22 in yards allowed and No. 24 in points allowed after finishing fourth in total defense last season, which was the best mark in franchise history since 2010.

MORE INFO - More information on the Anthony Weaver can be found here.

KEVIN STEFANSKI, FORMER CLEVELAND BROWNS HEAD COACH

Former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski | Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

FIRST REPORTED - Monday, January 5th

INTERVIEW DATE - First interview was on Sunday, Jan 11.

QUICK BIO - The former Browns head coach spent six seasons in Cleveland and finished with a 44-56 record, but only won eight games over his last two years (combined 8-26). Stefanski, 43, was a two-time NFL Coach of the Year after he won 11 games in both 2020 and 2023. In 2020, Stefanski also led the Browns to their first playoff win since the 1994-95 season and first appearance since 2002 – they had only been to the postseason four times since 1990.

MORE INFO - More information on the Kevin Stefanski can be found here.