The Atlanta Falcons are actively pursuing their 20th head coach in the team's history, having recently parted ways with Raheem Morris following the conclusion of the 2025 season. This transition comes as part of a revamped leadership structure, which now includes Matt Ryan serving as the President of Football Operations. Together with ZRG Partners and Sportsology Group, the Falcons are determined to find a fitting successor who can lead the team into a new era.
In a recent statement, Falcons owner Arthur Blank shared insights about the search process, indicating a shift in strategy: "Our search committee will be structured differently this time around. It will still include representatives from various areas of our organization, but we’re prioritizing the hiring of a president of football first. This is our primary focus, and we have a series of interviews lined up in the coming days. We aim to have this individual onboard to lead the upcoming searches for the head coach and general manager positions."
Once all interviews are conducted, the Falcons will publicly announce their candidates and provide relevant updates and background information on each.
It’s important to note that the NFL has specific regulations regarding how and when teams can interview coaching candidates. These guidelines are clearly outlined in league documents.
Recently, the Falcons completed an interview with Klint Kubiak for their head coach opening, marking a significant step in their search.
- For immediate analysis on why Matt Ryan is a suitable fit as the president of football, click here.
- Additionally, owner Arthur Blank has expressed that he feels '1,000% secure' regarding quarterback Michael Penix Jr.'s recent surgery.
- The Falcons also celebrated having four players named to the AP's 2025 NFL All-Pro team.
Currently, Kubiak serves as the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks. Since beginning his coaching career in the NFL in 2015, he has built an impressive resume, holding roles with the Minnesota Vikings (as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator), the Denver Broncos (as passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach), the San Francisco 49ers (as passing game coordinator), and the New Orleans Saints (as offensive coordinator).
Under Kubiak's leadership, the Seahawks have emerged as one of the most dynamic offenses in the league, recently securing the NFC West title and the top seed in the conference during the postseason—a remarkable achievement for the franchise, marking their first division championship since 2020 and their first No. 1 seed since 2014. This season, the Seahawks set a new franchise record with 14 wins, finishing third in scoring and tied for seventh in total yards during the regular season.
Kubiak also has a local connection with Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins; they worked together in Minnesota from 2019 to 2021. If Cousins remains with the Falcons—having reportedly restructured his contract last week—this familiarity could benefit their collaboration.
Kubiak stands out as a strong candidate due to his extensive experience in offensive coaching, which may be exactly what the Falcons need given their roster filled with young talent. Owner Arthur Blank believes that Michael Penix Jr., whom the Falcons selected in the first round of the 2024 draft, has the potential to be a franchise quarterback. Alongside him, star running back Bijan Robinson and wide receiver Drake London are still under their rookie contracts. Most of the starting offensive line is expected to return, and former starter Kaleb McGary should be back from injury in 2026 as well. The Falcons might also consider using their franchise tag on tight end Kyle Pitts Sr.
With all these pieces in place, Kubiak’s expertise could help the Falcons create a cohesive and effective offense. His success with the Seahawks illustrates his ability to quickly enhance an offense's performance; for instance, Seattle improved from 14th in total yards and 18th in points scored in 2024 to 8th and 3rd, respectively, in 2025. Comparatively, the Falcons ranked 14th in total yards and 24th in points scored this past season.
Kubiak's background with the Shanahan coaching tree, known for fostering powerful offenses, adds another layer to his candidacy. His time with the 49ers, where he contributed to Christian McCaffrey leading the league with 1,459 rushing yards and 2,023 scrimmage yards—culminating in a Super Bowl appearance—shows his capability to work with elite talents. This bodes well for the Falcons, who have a similar workhorse in Robinson. Moreover, Kubiak guided 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy to throw for the fifth-most yards in the NFL with 4,280, setting an ambitious benchmark for Penix.
