Atlanta Falcons Assistant Coaches: Who They Are and How They Shape Football in Atlanta

When people in Atlanta talk about the Atlanta Falcons, the head coach and star players usually get most of the attention. But if you live in the metro area, go to games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, or follow the team closely, it quickly becomes clear: the assistant coaches are the ones doing much of the daily work that shapes the team’s identity, culture, and performance.

This guide walks you through how the Atlanta Falcons assistant coaching staff is structured, what these coaches actually do, and what it means for fans and locals in Atlanta who follow the team year-round.

How the Atlanta Falcons Coaching Staff Is Organized

The Falcons’ coaching staff is usually divided into three main groups:

• Head Coach – the leader and final decision-maker.
• Coordinators – oversee entire phases of the team:
  • Offensive Coordinator
  • Defensive Coordinator
  • Special Teams Coordinator
• Position Coaches and Assistants – work directly with players in smaller groups (for example, wide receivers, linebackers, offensive line).

Typical Falcons Coaching Structure

Here’s a simple breakdown of how assistant coaches usually line up under the head coach:

If you’re an Atlanta fan trying to understand why the Falcons play a certain style on Sundays, it often comes back to these people and the way this structure operates behind the scenes at Flowery Branch, the team’s training facility northeast of the city.

Key Coordinator Roles for the Atlanta Falcons

While exact names can change, these three coordinator roles exist every season and are central to how the Falcons play in Atlanta.

Offensive Coordinator (OC)

The Offensive Coordinator is responsible for:

• Designing the offensive playbook.
• Calling plays (or heavily influencing them) on game day.
• Working closely with:
  • Quarterbacks Coach
  • Offensive Line Coach
  • Wide Receivers Coach
  • Running Backs Coach
  • Tight Ends Coach

For Atlanta fans, the OC’s philosophy affects:

• How often the Falcons run vs. pass.
• Whether the offense is aggressive or conservative.
• How star players are featured in the game plan.

If you’re at Mercedes-Benz Stadium watching a high-scoring game, the OC’s system and weekly preparation are a major reason why.

Defensive Coordinator (DC)

The Defensive Coordinator:

• Builds the defensive system (3–4, 4–3, hybrid looks, blitz packages).
• Designs game plans to attack specific opponents.
• Works closely with:
  • Defensive Line Coach
  • Linebackers Coach
  • Defensive Backs / Secondary Coach

For Atlantans who follow the team closely, the DC’s style helps explain:

• How aggressive the Falcons are with blitzes.
• How they handle mobile quarterbacks, especially in big NFC matchups.
• Whether the defense emphasizes turnovers, pressure, or conservative coverage.

Special Teams Coordinator (STC)

The Special Teams Coordinator often operates a bit out of the spotlight but plays a critical role:

• Manages kicking, punting, and return units.
• Works with:
  • Kicker, punter, long snapper.
  • Return specialists.
  • Backup players from offense and defense who fill special teams roles.

In Atlanta, where home games are indoors in a controlled environment, the STC can lean into more precise kicking strategies, trick plays, or aggressive return schemes that may be harder to pull off in open-air stadiums.

Position Coaches: The Daily Teachers of Falcons Football

While coordinators design the big picture, position coaches do much of the hands-on teaching with players every day.

If you’re curious about how that rookie or free-agent signing is developing, the position coach is usually the person most responsible.

Offensive Position Coaches

Common offensive assistant roles for the Falcons include:

• Quarterbacks Coach
  • Works on mechanics, reads, timing, and leadership.
  • Spends significant time in the film room with QBs.
• Running Backs Coach
  • Focuses on footwork, vision, ball security, pass protection.
• Wide Receivers Coach
  • Teaches route running, releases, catching techniques, and spacing.
• Tight Ends Coach
  • Blends blocking assignments with route running and pass-catching.
• Offensive Line Coach (sometimes with an assistant OL coach)
  • Coordinates blocking schemes for both run and pass.
  • Works heavily on communication and chemistry up front.

If you watch Falcons open training camp sessions (often in Flowery Branch), you’ll see these coaches running small-group drills on adjacent fields, each focusing on the techniques needed for Sundays in Atlanta.

Defensive Position Coaches

On defense, Falcons assistant coaches typically include:

• Defensive Line Coach
  • Trains pass rush moves, run fits, and leverage.
• Linebackers Coach
  • Works on tackling angles, coverage drops, and communication.
• Defensive Backs / Secondary Coach
  • Teaches coverage techniques, ball skills, and situational awareness.
• Assistant DBs / Safeties Coach (in some years)
  • Provides extra detail work with corners or safeties.

Their work is most visible when you see the defense communicate smoothly in loud stadium moments—something very familiar to fans at a packed Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Special Teams Assistants

Beyond the main coordinator, there may also be:

• Assistant Special Teams Coach
  • Helps coordinate drills across coverage and return units.
  • Focuses on technique and situational preparation (onside kicks, fake punts, etc.).

Support Staff: Strength, Conditioning, and Quality Control

Modern NFL teams like the Falcons rely on more than just position coaches.

Strength & Conditioning Coaches

These coaches:

• Design year-round training programs.
• Tailor workouts to specific positions (linemen vs. receivers, etc.).
• Coordinate with medical and athletic training staff.

This group keeps the roster prepared to handle a full NFL season, including:

• Summer heat in Atlanta during camp.
• The transition to indoor play at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
• Short rest weeks after prime-time or Thursday games.

Quality Control (QC) Coaches

Quality control assistants are often younger coaches who:

• Break down film of upcoming opponents.
• Chart tendencies (formations, down-and-distance trends).
• Assist coordinators in designing game plans.

Fans don’t see them often, but their behind-the-scenes work shapes what you eventually see on game day.

How Falcons Assistant Coaches Impact the Team You See in Atlanta

From a local perspective, here’s what assistant coaches mean for you as a Falcons fan or visitor:

1. Style of Play at Mercedes-Benz Stadium

The combined philosophies of the coordinators and position coaches influence:

• Whether the Falcons are known more for high-powered offense, stingy defense, or explosive special teams.
• How they adjust to playing indoors on turf versus outdoor road games.

Over time, you can often tell when a new assistant coach or coordinator has arrived just by the team’s on-field style.

2. Player Development and Fan-Favorite Stories

Many fan-favorite Falcons—from undrafted players to late-round picks—owe much of their growth to position coaches and assistants who:

• Refine technique day after day.
• Help players adjust to NFL speed and complexity.
• Support veterans in evolving their game as they age.

When local media in Atlanta highlights a breakout player, assistant coaches are often mentioned as key influences behind that success.

3. Game-Day Adjustments

During a home game in Atlanta, assistant coaches:

• Communicate directly with players on the sidelines.
• Monitor tablets and video replays to spot patterns.
• Relay information upstairs between the booth and the field.

Those mid-game shifts you notice—switching coverage styles, changing blocking looks, or altering return strategies—are usually coordinated by assistants responding to what they’re seeing in real time.

Where the Falcons’ Coaching Staff Works in Metro Atlanta

If you live in Atlanta or the surrounding area, these are the main “home bases” for the Falcons’ coaches:

• Atlanta Falcons Headquarters & Training Facility
  4400 Falcon Parkway
  Flowery Branch, GA 30542

  This is where:

  • Coaches design game plans.
  • Practices and training camp sessions are held.
  • Most behind-the-scenes work happens throughout the year.

• Mercedes-Benz Stadium
  1 AMB Drive NW
  Atlanta, GA 30313

  This is where:

  • The coaching staff runs the team on game days.
  • Fans can see sideline communication, positional huddles, and coordinator influence during live action.

While the training facility in Flowery Branch is outside the city proper, it’s an integral part of Atlanta’s pro sports ecosystem, and many local fans will make the drive up I‑985 during camp or special open practices.

How Atlanta Fans Can Learn More About Falcons Assistant Coaches

If you’re in Atlanta and want a deeper understanding of who’s shaping the Falcons behind the scenes, here are practical ways to stay informed:

• Team Rosters and Media Guides
  Each season, the Falcons release updated information on their full coaching staff—names, titles, and brief bios.

• Local Sports Coverage
  Atlanta-based outlets regularly:

  • Break down how coordinator changes affect schemes.
  • Highlight assistant coaches when new hires are made.
  • Provide background on coaches’ past stops and coaching styles.

• Training Camp Access
  When the Falcons open training camp to the public:

  • You can watch assistant coaches lead drills up close.
  • It becomes much easier to connect names, faces, and coaching styles with what you see on Sundays.

Why Understanding Falcons Assistant Coaches Matters in Atlanta

For someone living in or visiting Atlanta, knowing more than just the head coach and star players can deepen your connection with the team and your game-day experience.

Assistant coaches:

• Shape the play style you see at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
• Develop the players whose jerseys you see all over the city.
• Make critical adjustments that can swing close games.

Whether you’re attending a game downtown, watching from home in metro Atlanta, or just trying to understand how the Falcons are built from the inside out, taking a closer look at the assistant coaches gives you a fuller, more informed view of professional football in Atlanta.