Atlanta Falcons Name New Head Coach, 2 Top Execs

ATLANTA, GA — The Atlanta Falcons are continuing to build their top staff, naming their new offensive line coach on Tuesday. This came two days after announcing Kevin Stefanski as head coach.

The Falcons have been shifting their leadership after firing former Head Coach Raheem Morris and General Manager Terry Fontenot on Jan. 4, the day the team won 19-17 over longtime rivals New Orleans Saints. The terminations followed an overall 8-9 season for the Falcons.

Stefanski, a two-time Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year, was among a slew of head coaches who were fired from their posts after the most recent football season. He comes to the Falcons from the Cleveland Browns, is the Atlanta team's 20th head coach and will directly report to newly-hired President of Football Matt Ryan.

With boots on the ground, the team on Tuesday said Stefanski has selected Bill Callahan to guide the Falcons' offensive line. Callahan has held leadership roles for the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles

He is also a former head coach for the Oakland Raiders and the University of Nebraska, and was the offensive line coach and offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, according to a news release.

"I have seen Coach Callahan on his hands and knees getting guys into three-point stances how he wants it," Stefanski said about Callahan in a 2021 interview. "Coach Callahan has a way about him. That is how he has been coaching for years. I have heard the stories going way back to his college days. He coaches them hard, and he is fair. I think the guys respect that. He is a huge resource to me with him being a former head coach, and he has seen so much. I just think the guy is outstanding."

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Since becoming head coach Sunday, Stefanski has also hired Jeff Ulbrich as defensive coordinator.

Having been the linebackers' coach from 2015-19 and the team's former interim defensive coordinator, Ulbrich returned to the Falcons in 2025.

Ulbrich previously served as interim head coach of the New York Jets and helped the Falcons climb the ranks in sacks, going from second-to-last in 2024 to second overall in 2025, according to a news release.

He fills his latest role with the Falcons with the support of team owner Arthur Blank.

"Jeff Ulbrich, in my view, he did a really fine job for us this year," Blank said. "Certainly look at the record of sacks. And just the overall performance of defense was definitely better than it's been in the past."

The hiring of Ulbrich and Callahan underscore the Falcons' confidence in bringing on Stefanski, who was also an assistant coach for the Minnesota Vikings. In a statement, Ryan said he was "thrilled" to have Stefanski join the ranks.

"Coach Stefanski is a team-first leader who puts a premium on accountability for everyone and a player-driven culture. His experience in Cleveland and Minnesota has given him a great understanding of the importance of working in sync with scouting, personnel and the rest of the football staff to maximize talent across the roster and in doing everything possible to put our players in the best position to succeed," Ryan said in a news release.

"Kevin's style of leadership, combined with the staff and infrastructure in place here in Atlanta, gives us confidence in our shared vision for the team and we are excited to have him as the leader of our football team."

Earlier this month, the Falcons announced their opponents for the 2026 season. They are as follows:

Home

• Carolina Panthers (8-9)
• New Orleans Saints (6-11)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9)
• Chicago Bears (11-6)
• Detroit Lions (9-8)
• Baltimore Ravens (8-8)
• Cincinnati Bengals (6-11)
• San Francisco 49ers (12-5)
• Kansas City Chiefs (6-11)

Away

• at Carolina Panthers (8-9)
• at New Orleans Saints (6-11)
• at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9)
• Green Bay Packers (9-7-1)
• Minnesota Vikings (9-8)
• Cleveland Browns (5-12)
• Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
• Washington Commanders (5-12)