Who Coaches the Atlanta Falcons? A Local’s Guide to the Team’s Leader and Culture

If you live in Atlanta, follow the team from afar, or you’re visiting the city during football season, it’s natural to wonder: Who is the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, and how does that shape the team and fan experience here in Atlanta?

Below is a clear, locally focused guide to the current Atlanta Falcons head coach, what that role involves, and how it connects to life in and around Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the wider city.

The Atlanta Falcons Head Coach: The Team’s On‑Field CEO

The head coach of the Atlanta Falcons is the person ultimately responsible for:

• The team’s on‑field performance
• Game plans and play style
• Day‑to‑day practices and preparation
• Coordinating assistant coaches and staff
• Setting the culture and expectations in the locker room

In Atlanta, the head coach works hand‑in‑hand with the front office (including the general manager) to shape the roster, decide which players fit the system, and steer the overall direction of the franchise.

For fans, this means the coach directly influences:

• How aggressive the offense looks on Sundays
• How the defense lines up against divisional rivals like the Saints, Buccaneers, and Panthers
• Whether the team leans more run-heavy, pass-heavy, or balanced
• How the Falcons adapt to injuries, midseason changes, and close games

Because of all that, knowing who the coach is and what they prioritize helps you understand what you’re likely to see on the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and on TV.

How the Falcons Choose a Head Coach

When the Falcons hire a head coach, the process typically runs through the team ownership and front office, based in Flowery Branch, northeast of Atlanta:

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

The search process often includes:

1. Interviews with multiple candidates

   • Offensive coordinators, defensive coordinators, and experienced head coaches from around the league.
   • Sometimes successful college coaches or position coaches on the rise.

2. Evaluation of coaching philosophy

   • Does the coach favor a high-powered passing attack or a strong running game?
   • What kind of defensive scheme do they run (for example, more man coverage vs. zone)?
   • How do they approach player development and locker-room leadership?

3. Fit with Atlanta and the Falcons’ identity

   • The organization often looks for someone who can connect with the Atlanta community, communicate well with media and fans, and represent the city positively.
   • There’s also a focus on building a long‑term, sustainable style rather than just short‑term fixes.

4. Contract and staff building

   • Once hired, the head coach helps select coordinators and position coaches and shapes the broader coaching staff.

What the Falcons Coach Actually Does Week to Week

If you’re attending a game in Atlanta, watching from home, or following local coverage on sports radio and TV, here’s what the Falcons coach is doing behind the scenes.

Game Planning for Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Road Games

Each week during the season, the coaching staff:

• Reviews game film of the upcoming opponent
• Designs an offensive and defensive game plan
• Adjusts to the unique conditions of home vs. away games

For home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium:

• The team can benefit from crowd noise on defense, making it harder for visiting offenses to communicate.
• The indoor environment (climate-controlled) removes weather as a factor, which can favor a faster, more timing-based passing game.

The head coach has final say on how the team will attack and defend, and how they will use Atlanta’s home-field advantages.

Practice at Flowery Branch

During the week, the coach and staff run practices at the Flowery Branch facility:

• Install days: teaching the week’s plays, defensive calls, and special teams plans.
• Situational work: red zone, third down, two-minute drills.
• Player development: working with younger players and recent draft picks to fit them into the system.

This is where the coach’s philosophy becomes visible: some prioritize fundamentals and discipline, others emphasize creativity, motion, and misdirection on offense, or aggression and pressure on defense.

Game Day Decisions

On game day in Atlanta (or on the road), the Falcons coach is responsible for:

• Timeout management
• Challenging officiating calls
• Fourth‑down decisions (go for it vs. punt or kick)
• Balancing run/pass play calling (if the head coach also calls plays)
• Managing injuries and substitutions

These choices often decide close games and are a big focus for local media and fans.

Key Roles on the Falcons Coaching Staff

Even though the head coach gets most of the attention, several other coaches shape what you see on the field.

Offensive Coordinator

The offensive coordinator (OC) helps design the offense and may:

• Call plays on Sunday, or
• Share responsibilities with the head coach, depending on the setup.

The OC’s approach affects:

• How often the Falcons throw deep vs. short passes
• How heavily they use the running game
• How star players (like top receivers and running backs) are featured
• How the offense performs in crucial situations near the goal line

For Atlanta fans, the OC usually becomes a hot topic if the offense is either very explosive or struggling to move the ball.

Defensive Coordinator

The defensive coordinator (DC) sets the tone on that side of the ball:

• Chooses the base defensive scheme (for example, how many defensive backs are on the field)
• Decides how often the Falcons blitz, play zone, or man coverage
• Works with position coaches to develop linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs

In the NFC South, containing mobile quarterbacks and strong running games is a priority, and the DC’s game plans are shaped around those matchups.

Special Teams Coordinator

Special teams can swing games with:

• Kick returns and punt returns
• Field goals and extra points
• Punts and field position battles

The special teams coordinator plays a big part in how aggressive or conservative the Falcons are on fake punts, onside kicks, and return strategies.

How the Falcons Coach Connects With Atlanta Fans

In Atlanta, the head coach is more than a sideline figure. They’re a major public presence in the city.

Media, Community, and Local Presence

You’ll often see or hear the coach:

• Speaking at press conferences from Flowery Branch
• Giving weekly updates carried by Atlanta sports radio and local TV
• Discussing the team’s direction, injuries, and roster decisions

Many Falcons coaches also participate in or support:

• Local charity and community events
• Youth football initiatives in metro Atlanta
• Appearances connected to the team’s outreach efforts

For residents, this makes the coach a visible figure in the broader Atlanta sports culture, not just an NFL name.

Following the Falcons Coach From Inside Atlanta

If you’re in or near Atlanta and want to stay current on who is coaching the Falcons and what they’re saying, there are a few practical approaches.

1. Official Team Channels

The most reliable way to confirm the current Falcons head coach and assistants is through official team communications:

Atlanta Falcons / Mercedes-Benz Stadium
1 AMB Dr NW
Atlanta, GA 30313

From Atlanta, you can:

• Check official team announcements for coaching changes.
• Watch or listen to coach press conferences usually held during the week and after games.
• Follow the coach’s comments about injuries, game plans, and performance.

2. Local Sports Media

Atlanta-based sports outlets frequently cover:

• Coaching hires and firings
• Scheme changes (for example, switching defensive approaches)
• Postgame analysis of coaching decisions

If you live in the metro area, you’ll hear regular breakdowns of the Falcons coach’s performance during and after the season.

3. Attending Games and Training Camp

If you want to see the coach in action:

• Home Games:

  • Held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta.
  • You can observe how the coach interacts with players, responds to momentum shifts, and manages the sideline.

• Training Camp (typically in Flowery Branch):

  • In many seasons, the Falcons open certain training camp practices to the public.
  • Fans can often watch how practices are run and sometimes see how coaches teach and communicate on the field.

Availability and policies can vary by season, but attending these events offers a close-up look at the coach’s style.

What the Falcons Coach Means for You as an Atlanta Fan

For everyday fans in Atlanta, understanding the Falcons head coach helps you:

• Make sense of the team’s style and identity
• Set realistic expectations for a given season (rebuild vs. contender)
• Interpret roster moves, draft picks, and free agent signings
• Enjoy games more by recognizing the strategy and patterns behind the plays

Here’s a quick reference you can keep in mind:

If you live in Atlanta or are planning a visit during football season, having a basic grasp of who coaches the Atlanta Falcons and what that role involves will deepen your connection to the games, the team, and the city’s sports atmosphere.