The Atlanta Falcons are currently a ship without a captain.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a whirlwind right now in Flowery Branch. If you’re looking for a name to pin on the locker room door today, Tuesday, January 13, 2026, you won’t find one. The seat is empty. The headset is sitting on a shelf.
Just nine days ago, owner Arthur Blank decided he’d seen enough. On Sunday, January 4, 2026, the Falcons officially fired Raheem Morris. It was a move that caught some folks off guard—mostly because Morris had just finished the season on a four-game winning streak—but a division tiebreaker loss that kept Atlanta out of the playoffs for the eighth straight year was the final straw.
Who is the coach of the Atlanta Falcons during this 2026 rebuild?
Right now, the search is the story. We aren't just looking for a new coach; we are looking at a total organizational facelift. While there isn't a permanent head coach in place this second, the man leading the hunt is a face every Falcons fan knows by heart: Matt Ryan.
Yeah, "Matty Ice" is back.
In a massive announcement made just hours ago, the Falcons named Matt Ryan as the new President of Football. He’s not the coach, and he’s made it very clear he doesn't want to be. He told reporters today that he has no interest in calling plays or running meetings. Instead, his first major job is to find the person who will.
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The Shortlist: Who could it be?
Since the search is active, the "who" is a moving target. But the Falcons' front office hasn't been sitting on their hands. They’ve already churned through several interviews. If you’re betting on who takes the whistle next, these are the heavy hitters currently in the mix:
- John Harbaugh: The longtime Ravens coach was fired just last week after 18 years in Baltimore. He’s arguably the biggest fish in the pond. He’s already had a preliminary virtual interview with Atlanta as of Monday.
- Mike McDaniel: The former Dolphins coach is a fascinating name because of his history here. He was an assistant in Atlanta back in 2016 when Ryan won his MVP. He’s already interviewed for the vacancy.
- Aden Durde: Currently the defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks. He’s got "local ties" written all over him, having served as a Falcons assistant under Dan Quinn and Raheem Morris. He interviewed this past Saturday.
- Anthony Weaver: The Dolphins' defensive coordinator is also in the building for talks.
It's a weird time. You've got a franchise legend (Ryan) picking a new coach while the team is also trying to find a new General Manager to replace Terry Fontenot, who was also let go alongside Morris.
Why Raheem Morris didn't last
You might be wondering why we're even asking who is the coach of the Atlanta Falcons again so soon. Raheem Morris only had two seasons. In the NFL, that’s a blink of an eye.
Morris finished his tenure with a 16-18 record. He went 8-9 in 2024 and exactly 8-9 again in 2025. On paper, it looks like stagnation. But if you dig into the 2025 season, the defense actually turned into a bit of a monster. They set a franchise record with 57 sacks. They were hitting quarterbacks, playing hard, and as star receiver Drake London put it, the players "wanted Rah back with all their hearts."
But Arthur Blank is 83 years old. He’s tired of waiting.
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The "8-9" curse has plagued this team for what feels like a decade. Blank wants a Super Bowl, and he clearly felt that Morris, despite his "We, Not Me" philosophy and Super Bowl rings from his time with the Rams, wasn't the guy to get them over the hump. The firing was clinical. It was about results, plain and simple.
The Matt Ryan Factor
Having Matt Ryan as the President of Football changes the math for the next coach. Usually, a coach reports to a GM. In this new 2026 structure, both the Head Coach and the GM will report to Ryan.
Ryan is looking for three specific things in the next leader:
- Character: No surprises there.
- Emotional Stability: This feels like a nod to the wild ups and downs of the last few seasons.
- Presence: He wants someone who commands the room.
Basically, the Falcons aren't just looking for a "scheme guy." They’re looking for a CEO.
The Quarterback Situation the New Coach Inherits
Whoever takes the job isn't walking into a barren wasteland. They are inheriting Michael Penix Jr. Penix is entering his third season in 2026. He’s currently rehabbing from a knee surgery he had back in November 2025, but Matt Ryan mentioned today that he’s already "getting after it" in the facility. The next coach won't have to hunt for a franchise QB; they just have to keep this one healthy and build a system that works for him.
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It’s a "good" bad job. You have the talent. You have the facilities. You have a passionate (if exhausted) fanbase. You just don't have a winning culture yet.
What happens next?
We expect a decision soon. NFL coaching cycles move fast because nobody wants to miss out on the top coordinators before they're snatched up.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the second-round interviews. Usually, when a candidate is flown into Atlanta for an "in-person" follow-up, that’s when the ink is about to hit the paper.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Follow the Tracker: Check the official Falcons "Head Coach Tracker" daily. They are being surprisingly transparent about who they are interviewing.
- Watch the GM Hire: Often, the GM is hired first, or they are hired as a "package deal." If the Falcons land Ian Cunningham (the Bears' assistant GM who is a frontrunner), it might signal which coaching tree they are leaning toward.
- Listen to Matt Ryan: Since he’s the one making the call, his press conferences are the best source of truth for the "vibe" of the next era.
The Atlanta Falcons don't have a coach today, but by the time the Super Bowl kicks off in February, the "who" will be the most important person in Georgia sports.