The Atlanta Falcons‘ offseason makeover is almost complete. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has built his inaugural staff with a familiar cast of characters, and two names loom large: Craig Aukerman, hired as special teams coordinator, and Bill Callahan, brought in as offensive line coach. Both spent time with the Tennessee Titans—and both are walking into Atlanta’s attempt at resurrection.
Aukerman, 49, was back in the NFL spotlight after spending 2025 with the Miami Dolphins. In Miami, he oversaw a special teams operation that finally hummed. Kicker Riley Patterson went nuclear, making 27 of 29 field goal attempts (93.1%)—fourth-best in the league—with a perfect 11-for-11 stroke from 40 yards out and a 54-yarder to boot. The Dolphins’ return game showed promise, and overall execution tightened up compared to 2024.
Aukerman’s previous tenure as Tennessee’s special teams coordinator ended badly. He spent six years with the Titans (2017-2023), and had a few positive stretches, but he was fired on Dec. 4, 2023, after a catastrophic Week 13 loss to Indianapolis—complete with a blocked punt returned for a touchdown and a missed extra point attempt.
Now he gets a fresh start in Atlanta. The Falcons ranked among the worst in coverage and returns in 2025, and Aukerman will be tasked with cleaning up that mess. If he can replicate even half of what he helped deliver in Miami, Atlanta’s kicking game alone becomes a noticeable upgrade.
NFL News: Two Former Tennessee Titans Coaches Hired by Kevin Stefanski, Atlanta Falcons
Bill Callahan’s path to Atlanta mirrors a loyalty play that’s become increasingly risky for head coaches. The 69-year-old offensive line coach previously worked with Stefanski in Cleveland (2020-2023), where the Browns built one of the league’s premier O-lines.
Callahan left Cleveland in October 2024 to join his son, Brian, as part of the Tennessee Titans‘ coaching staff. That decision didn’t age well. Brian Callahan, hired as the Titans’ head coach in 2024, posted a disastrous 4-19 record. He was out of Nashville following Week 6 of 2025 after an anemic offense ranked dead last in yards per game and second-worst in points per game.
The Titans’ offensive line struggled dramatically under Callahan’s watch. Even with upgraded personnel, blocking schemes fell apart. Yet somehow, the Titans’ rushing attack and pass protection actually improved once Brian was fired and the offensive play-calling duties were stripped away.
That’s the backdrop Callahan brings to Atlanta. Yes, he’s legendary—a two-time Super Bowl participant who coached the Raiders to their most recent Super Bowl appearance in 2003. But recent results have been murky, and Stefanski’s willingness to bring him aboard suggests he either believes in redemption or he values familiarity over caution.
Like Mike Vrabel, Kevin Stefanski Sticks with Old Friends
Stefanski’s staff construction has raised eyebrows. Both Aukerman and Callahan have prior connections to Stefanski or have worked together in similar roles. That’s fine if it works. But the cautionary tale came from Tennessee—where fired Titans coach Mike Vrabel built a staff of longtime confidants and eventually lost the organization’s confidence. When ownership and front office priorities shifted, those friendships couldn’t save him.
Stefanski enters Atlanta with the highest respect and a 45-56 record that masks some genuine competitive stretches (11 wins in back-to-back seasons, two playoff appearances). But the Falcons are a franchise desperate for stability after eight years without a playoff berth. If Stefanski’s staff construction works, he looks prescient. If it doesn’t, he risks repeating the mistakes that derailed Vrabel’s tenure.
For now, Aukerman gets a chance to prove his Miami season wasn’t a one-off. Callahan gets another opportunity to prove his offensive line prowess hasn’t faded. And Stefanski gets to bet on his instincts about the people he trusts.
Atlanta’s brass, including owner Arthur Blank and new president of football Matt Ryan, clearly believes this is the move. We’ll find out on the field.
Ex-Titans Coaches Craig Aukerman, Bill Callahan Join Atlanta Falcons Staff