Da'Shawn Hand: Everything you need to know

The Falcons signed Hand to a contract Monday, Will McFadden of the team's official site reports. Hand is a nine-year NFL veteran who spent 2025 with the Chargers, tallying 29 tackles (including 1.5 sacks) along with four defensed passes (including an interception) over 13 regular-season games. He should compete for a starting role with Atlanta.

Hand accumulated 29 tackles (18 solo), including 1.5 sacks, and four passes defensed, including one interception, over 13 games in the 2025 regular season. Hand's Week 14 interception of Jalen Hurts marked the first of his eight-year career, and the pick helped lead the Chargers to a pivotal victory over the defending champs. The defensive end managed to exceed his 2024 sack total (1.0) despite playing four fewer games in 2025. The 30-year-old will enter the 2026 season as an unrestricted free agent, free to hunt a contract from any team that desires his services.

Hand recorded two tackles (one solo) and an interception during Monday's 22-19 win versus the Eagles. Hand fooled quarterback Jalen Hurts by dropping back from the line of scrimmage into coverage in the middle of the second quarter, and the short pass ended up being thrown straight to him. The ball was punched out of his hands on the return and subsequently recovered by Hurts, who then coughed it up for linebacker Troy Dye to recover. Hand will be looking to cause more chaos in a Week 15 matchup against a pass-dependent Kansas City offense.