Lead
The Atlanta Falcons have opened a national search for the franchise’s 20th head coach after parting ways with Raheem Morris following the final game of the 2025 season. Club leadership engaged ZRG Partners and Sportsology Group to assist in vetting candidates and scheduling interviews. The organization has begun interviewing multiple prominent coaches and coordinators, and the Falcons editorial staff will maintain an ongoing tracker of completed interviews, backgrounds and outcomes. The team has indicated it will announce each interview after it concludes.
Key Takeaways
- The Falcons parted ways with Raheem Morris after the 2025 season and are seeking their 20th head coach in franchise history.
- The team retained ZRG Partners and Sportsology Group to manage and advise the search process.
- Jim Harbaugh interviewed on Monday, Jan. 12; he led the Baltimore Ravens from 2008–25 with 12 playoff berths and one Super Bowl title.
- Kevin Stefanski interviewed on Sunday, Jan. 11; he was Cleveland’s head coach from 2020–25 and earned AP Coach of the Year in 2020 and 2023.
- Aden Durde, Klint Kubiak and Anthony Weaver were interviewed on Saturday, Jan. 10; Durde and Kubiak are part of the Seahawks’ high-powered 2025 staff.
- Organizational moves this offseason include Greg Beadles as President & CEO and Matt Ryan named President of Football, signaling an expanded front-office role.
- The Falcons will follow NFL interview rules and post interview announcements after each candidate meeting is complete.
Background
The Falcons enter this coaching transition following a 2025 campaign that prompted ownership to seek a new direction. Atlanta has employed 19 head coaches since its 1966 founding; the next hire will be the 20th in franchise history and is expected to set a new operational tone under recently elevated executives. Owner and chairman Arthur M. Blank has framed the changes as part of a broader rebuild of on-field results and institutional structure.
Front-office adjustments this offseason — notably Greg Beadles as President & CEO and Matt Ryan’s role as President of Football — change the decision-making landscape. Those appointments suggest the hiring process will prioritize alignment between the coach and the new executive team, with an emphasis on roster construction, player development and long-term stability. The Falcons’ use of external consultants ZRG Partners and Sportsology Group is consistent with other modern NFL searches that balance league relationships with independent evaluation.
Main Event
The search timetable began with a high-profile slate of interviews on Jan. 10–12. On Saturday, Jan. 10, Atlanta met with three candidates: Aden Durde (Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator), Klint Kubiak (Seattle offensive coordinator) and Anthony Weaver (Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator). Each brought recent playoff and team-building experience; Durde and Kubiak arrive from a Seahawks staff that posted a franchise-record 14 wins in 2025 and secured the NFC West and the conference’s No. 1 seed.
On Sunday, Jan. 11, Kevin Stefanski interviewed for the post. Stefanski, Cleveland’s head coach from 2020–25, twice earned AP Coach of the Year recognition (2020, 2023) and is credited with stabilizing the Browns’ offense and returning the franchise to playoff contention. Atlanta’s meeting with Stefanski underscored interest in offensive-minded leadership with prior head-coaching experience.
Jim Harbaugh interviewed on Monday, Jan. 12. Harbaugh spent 18 seasons as the Baltimore Ravens’ head coach (2008–25), compiling 12 playoff appearances, four AFC Championship Game berths and one Super Bowl win. His long tenure and championship resume make him a veteran finalist with an extensive track record in building a competitive, sustained program.
Analysis & Implications
The candidate mix reflects two competing priorities: proven head-coaching experience (Harbaugh, Stefanski) and upward-trending coordinators with roster-level connections (Durde, Kubiak, Weaver). If Atlanta favors immediate stability and a championship pedigree, Harbaugh’s résumé is compelling: long-term success, postseason consistency and a Super Bowl title. That profile typically buys ownership a more conservative, win-now approach and strong institutional control over scheme and personnel.
Conversely, Stefanski offers recent success as a head coach with an offensive identity and demonstrated ability to retool a roster. His two AP Coach of the Year seasons and experience turning around Cleveland suggest he could bring a process-oriented, player-development approach that aligns with a front office prioritizing offense and quarterback play. Stefanski’s familiarity with modern offensive systems may appeal if the Falcons’ leadership prioritizes scheme innovation.
The Seahawks’ duo — Durde on defense and Kubiak on offense — presents an internal-coordinator option drawn from a contemporary, high-performing staff. Kubiak manages a top-3 scoring offense, while Durde’s rapid rise and international background (North London roots and UK coaching experience) bring diversity and fresh recruiting/organizational perspective. Weaver’s defensive-line pedigree and NFL playing background make him a candidate with strong positional credibility and defensive play-calling experience.
Across scenarios, the hire will affect draft priorities, free-agent strategy and staff retention. A defensive-minded head coach could shift investment toward secondary and edge rush; an offensive hire would likely prioritize quarterback development and pass-catching talent. The new President of Football role increases the probability that the front office will seek a coach compatible with an extended rebuild and cap management plan rather than a short-term fix.
Comparison & Data
| Candidate | Previous Role | Interview Date | Notable Stat/Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Harbaugh | Head Coach, Baltimore Ravens (2008–25) | Jan. 12, 2026 | 12 playoff appearances; 1 Super Bowl title |
| Kevin Stefanski | Head Coach, Cleveland Browns (2020–25) | Jan. 11, 2026 | AP Coach of the Year (2020, 2023); stabilized Browns |
| Aden Durde | Defensive Coordinator, Seattle Seahawks (2024– ) | Jan. 10, 2026 | Part of Seahawks staff that went 14–3 in 2025 |
| Klint Kubiak | Offensive Coordinator, Seattle Seahawks | Jan. 10, 2026 | Seahawks ranked 3rd in scoring (regular season) |
| Anthony Weaver | Defensive Coordinator, Miami Dolphins (2024– ) | Jan. 10, 2026 | Defense allowed ~22 PPG last two seasons (15th) |
The table summarizes roles and interview timing to help compare experience levels quickly. Harbaugh and Stefanski arrive with multiple seasons as NFL head coaches; the others are coordinators who led units in top-tier conferences during the 2024–25 period. Hiring any of these candidates will send a clear signal about Atlanta’s strategic priorities for roster construction and on-field identity.
Reactions & Quotes
“We will conduct a thorough search and evaluate each candidate against our long-term plan for the franchise.”
Atlanta Falcons (team statement)
“Harbaugh brings sustained postseason success and a championship pedigree that would immediately alter the Falcons’ expectations.”
NFL analyst (league media)
“Stefanski’s track record of stabilizing offenses and two Coach of the Year awards make him an attractive option for clubs seeking quick turnaround.”
Pro football commentator
Unconfirmed
- No formal offer to any finalist has been announced at the time of this report; negotiations, if any, remain private.
- It is unconfirmed whether the Falcons have a preferred finalist or a short list beyond the candidates publicly interviewed so far.
Bottom Line
The Falcons’ 2026 head-coaching search is a pivotal organizational moment that follows substantive front-office restructuring. The choices on the table — from championship-proven head coaches to ascending coordinators — represent contrasting paths: immediate competition with an established leader or a longer-term rebuild under a developmental coach. Ownership and the new executive leadership appear set to prioritize alignment between the coach and the broader football strategy.
Fans and stakeholders should expect a deliberate process with public updates after each interview; the club’s use of third-party advisors and the recent executive appointments indicate an emphasis on due diligence. The final decision will shape roster moves, staff hires and the Falcons’ competitive trajectory for multiple seasons.
Sources
- Atlanta Falcons — Head Coach Tracker 2026 (official team release)
- NFL Operations (league rules and interview process, official)
- Baltimore Ravens (team site, official)
- Cleveland Browns (team site, official)
- Seattle Seahawks (team site, official)
- Miami Dolphins (team site, official)