If you’re looking for a simple name to put on a jersey right now, you might be in for a surprise. As of mid-January 2026, the Atlanta Falcons do not have a head coach.
It’s a bit of a mess, honestly. After a 2025 season that felt like a rollercoaster with the brakes cut, owner Arthur Blank decided he’d seen enough. On January 4, 2026, the team officially parted ways with Raheem Morris. He’s gone. Along with him, the team also showed General Manager Terry Fontenot the door.
So, if you’re asking who the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons is today, the answer is "vacant." But that doesn't mean nothing is happening in Flowery Branch. In fact, it's the busiest the building has been in years because the Falcons are currently in the middle of a massive leadership overhaul led by a very familiar face: Matt Ryan.
Why Raheem Morris is out and what happened in 2025
Raheem Morris was supposed to be the guy who finally unlocked this roster. He had the "We, Not Me" philosophy he brought over from the Rams and a defensive pedigree that was supposed to fix Atlanta's historical struggles. Instead, we got two straight seasons of 8-9 records.
Basically, the Falcons became the kings of mediocrity.
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In 2025, things looked promising early on. They were 3-2 after a solid win against the Buffalo Bills. Then the wheels fell off. A five-game losing streak mid-season effectively ended their playoff hopes. While they managed to win their final four games—including a 19-17 nail-biter against the Saints in the finale—it wasn't enough to save Morris. Blank noted in his official statement that the results simply "have not met our expectations." Morris finished his two-year tenure with a 16-18 record. No playoffs. No division titles. Just a lot of "what ifs."
The "Matty Ice" era part two: President Matt Ryan
Here is the twist nobody saw coming a few years ago. Before hiring a new coach, Arthur Blank hired a President of Football. That person is none other than Falcons legend Matt Ryan.
Ryan isn't the coach, but he is the one picking the coach. This is a huge shift in how the Falcons operate. Usually, Blank and a search firm handle everything. Now, they’ve brought in the greatest player in franchise history to lead the search committee alongside the firms ZRG Partners and Sportsology Group.
If you want to know where the Falcons are headed, you have to look at who Ryan is interviewing. They aren't just looking for a "football guy"; they're looking for someone who can finally maximize a roster that includes Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and young defensive stars like James Pearce Jr. and Jalon Walker.
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Who are the top candidates to become the next Falcons head coach?
Since the position is currently open, the rumor mill is spinning at about 100 miles per hour. As of January 15, 2026, the Falcons have already started checking off their interview list.
Mike McDaniel
The Falcons recently completed an interview with Mike McDaniel. Yeah, the guy with the quirky press conferences and the high-octane Dolphins offense. He led Miami to back-to-back playoffs in '22 and '23, and his offensive creativity is exactly what fans have been begging for in Atlanta. He actually has history here, too, having served as an offensive assistant for the Falcons back in 2015.
Kevin Stefanski
Currently, the betting favorites seem to be leaning toward Kevin Stefanski. He’s a two-time Coach of the Year who recently parted ways with the Browns after a rough 5-12 season. Despite that finish, his track record of getting the Browns (of all teams) into the playoffs twice makes him a very attractive "steady hand" candidate for Matt Ryan.
Klint Kubiak
The team also interviewed Klint Kubiak, the current Seahawks offensive coordinator. Kubiak has deep ties to the "Shanahan tree," which is basically the gold standard in the NFL right now. He also coached Kirk Cousins in Minnesota, which is a relevant detail since Cousins' future in Atlanta is still a talking point.
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Other names in the mix:
- Brian Flores: The Vikings DC is a popular name for several openings.
- Matt LaFleur: Rumors are swirling, though he's still tied to Green Bay.
- John Harbaugh: A long shot, but his name always pops up when a "culture builder" is needed.
What this means for the players
Whoever takes the job is inheriting a weirdly talented roster. This isn't a "burn it to the ground" rebuild.
- The Offense: You have Bijan Robinson (an All-Pro) and Drake London. The offensive line is mostly returning.
- The Quarterback: This is the elephant in the room. The new coach has to decide between sticking with the veteran presence or fully committing to Michael Penix Jr., who was drafted in the first round of 2024 to be the future.
- The Defense: The 2025 rookie class was actually incredible. James Pearce Jr. and Jalon Walker led all rookies in sacks. The pieces are there; they just need a scheme that doesn't fall apart in November.
Actionable insights for Falcons fans
If you're trying to stay ahead of the news cycle, here is what you should be watching for in the coming days:
- Watch the "President of Football" updates: Matt Ryan is the gatekeeper. Any coach he spends extra time with is likely the frontrunner.
- The Rooney Rule requirements: The Falcons must interview at least two external minority candidates in person before making a hire. Until that happens, no official announcement can be made.
- The "Second Interview" list: In the NFL coaching cycle, the first interview is the screen; the second interview (the "callback") is where the job is actually won. Keep an eye on who gets invited back to Flowery Branch for a second round.
- Staff retention: Watch to see if the new coach keeps Jeff Ulbrich (Defensive Coordinator) or Marquice Williams (Special Teams). Ulbrich’s defense showed flashes of elite play toward the end of 2025, and a new coach might want that continuity.
The Falcons are at a crossroads. For the first time in nearly a decade, the franchise feels like it’s being run by people who actually played the game at a high level. Whether that translates to wins on the field in 2026 remains to be seen, but the "vacant" sign on the head coach's door won't be there for long.