The Atlanta Falcons were early to market ahead of Black Monday in firing Raheem Morris, but the Dirty Birds have plenty of competition around the NFL for their head coaching job post on Linkedin. Six NFL teams are already looking for a new head coach, a number that could potentially grow.
The challenge for the Falcons and other teams is that there is not an obvious coveted coordinator like the Chicago Bears landed in Ben Johnson or the Seattle Seahawks hired in Mike Macdonald over recent NFL cycles. There are still plenty of quality candidates for Atlanta to consider, even if there is no obvious choice.
Atlanta’s vacancy should generate plenty of interest given the strength of the young roster headlined by Bijan Robinson, Drake London and other stars. There are obvious challenges as the Falcons signed two quarterbacks to deals worth more than $200 million, and it is unclear if either Kirk Cousins or Michael Penix are the answer at the position.
The Falcons also do not have a first-round pick as it belongs to the Los Angeles Rams. Yet, Atlanta was an NFC South tiebreaker away from making the NFL playoffs and should be one of the most appealing openings of any NFL job.
Here’s a look at the top candidates who could be named the next Falcons head coach.
No. 5 Steelers HC Mike Tomlin
Yes, the Pittsburgh Steelers have made the NFL playoffs, but it is hard to imagine Mike Tomlin’s squad being a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Tomlin has been a legendary coach in Pittsburgh, but it appears the Steelers have reached their ceiling under his tenure.
Could both parties be headed for a breakup? The Falcons would likely have to give up a draft pick in a trade for Tomlin, unless the Steelers part ways with one of the best coaches in franchise history.
The truth is Falcons fans would love to have had some of the recent seasons the Steelers have posted in recent years, even if it has been a disappointment in Pittsburgh.
No. 4 Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury
Kliff Kingsbury’s first tenure as an NFL head coach did not go as planned. Kingsbury went 28-37-1 in his four years with the Arizona Cardinals, posting just one season with a winning record.
So, why is Kingsbury still generating buzz amid the NFL coaching carousel? Kingsbury is still one of the best offensive minds in football and appeared to gel nicely with Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels before injuries derailed the 2025 season.
Kingsbury will likely get a second chance sooner rather than later, but the Falcons are unlikely in a position to take a gamble given the current state of the franchise. Atlanta also gave Raheem Morris a second chance which did not end favorably, so this could work against Kingsbury’s chances.
No. 3 North Carolina HC Bill Belichick
It is hard to imagine things going much worse in Chapel Hill for Bill Belichick. That said, owner Arthur Blank seriously kicked the tires on hiring Belichick before opting for Morris in 2024.
Could Blank re-open conversations with Belichick? The case for Belichick is that he is designed to coach in the NFL, not college football.
As time goes on, Belichick’s lack of success without Tom Brady is starting to diminish his chances of coaching in the NFL again. Belichick’s last winning season came with the New England Patriots in 2021.
The legendary coach finished his tenure with the Patriots by posting three losing seasons in his final four years.
No. 2 Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak
Seattle Seahawks assistant Klint Kubiak is expected to be one of the most sought after coordinators during the upcoming NFL coaching cycle. The Falcons have tried the path of hiring veteran head coaches, and it may be time to roll the dice on a young assistant.
Over the last two seasons, Kubiak transformed both the New Orleans Saints and Seahawks offenses. If the Seahawks make a Super Bowl run, Kubiak will get even more shine this offseason given the number of NFL vacancies.
No. 1 Bills OC Joe Brady
Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady is the rare coach to garner interest from both the NFL and college football. Brady made a name for himself alongside Joe Burrow at LSU but also has NFL experience with the Saints, Bills and Carolina Panthers.
There is no coveted assistant quite like Johnson was the last two cycles, but Brady is a name to know as a potential NFL head coach in 2026. Given the uncertainty at quarterback in Atlanta, it remains to be seen how Brady perceives the Falcons gig compared to other openings.
New Falcons Coach: Top 5 Best Candidates for Atlanta to Hire Amid NFL Rumors