5 days ago
2
The Atlanta Falcons didn't waste any time after Sunday's season finale before firing head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot. The team's four-game winning streak to close the year wasn't enough to save their jobs, and Atlanta has already started searching for replacements.
The Falcons are one of seven teams with a head coaching vacancy and one of two teams looking for a new general manager. Fortunately for Atlanta, there are some solid candidates available and the team has bit of a head start on the other six.
Advertisement
While Blank has hired a firm to assist with the coaching search, we're offering five suggestions free of charge. From experienced coaches to up-and-coming coordinators, here are five candidates for the Falcons to consider in 2026.
John Harbaugh (former Ravens head coach)
Harbaugh is probably the most surprising name on this list. The Super Bowl-champion head coach was fired by the Baltimore Ravens after 18 NFL seasons. Harbuagh has a career record of 180-113, and is easily the most experienced coach available. While his teams have fallen short in recent seasons, the Ravens were a consistent contender for nearly two decades under Harbaugh. The former NFL Coach of the Year will have plenty of interested suitors.
Probability: Medium
Advertisement
Kevin Stefanski (former Browns head coach)
Stefanski is arguably the best fit for the job. The two-time NFL Coach of the Year will also be in high demand due to his experience and play-calling ability. There could be a scenario in which the Falcons hire Stefanski and keep defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. Stefanski went 45-56 over six seasons as Cleveland's head coach. The Browns took an unusual approach in 2025, entering the season with way too many quarterbacks. Stefanski also has experience working with Kirk Cousins, which could help the team get by while Michael Penix Jr. gets fully healthy.
Probability: Medium/High
Vance Joseph (Broncos defensive coordinator)
The Falcons could also look at Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. The Broncos defense was arguably the best in the NFL this season, finishing with 68 sacks and allowing just 278.2 yards per game. Denver is the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and while head coach Sean Payton gets most of the credit, Joseph is the secret sauce to the Broncos' success. Atlanta has already requested an interview with Denver's defensive wiz.
Advertisement
Probability: Low/Medium
Klint Kubiak (Seahawks offensive coordinator)
Kubiak is this year's top offensive coordinator candidate. Seattle's offense ranked third in points scored (28.4 per game) in 2025, helping the team clinch the top seed in the NFC playoffs. The Seahawks traded away Geno Smith before signing free-agent quarterback Sam Darnold in the offseason, and the experiment paid off. Not only did Darnold play well, but the team's balanced offensive attack set the defense up for success. It would be interesting to see what Kubiak could do with Penix in Atlanta.
Probability: Medium
Mike LaFleur (Rams offensive coordinator)
The Rams offense will always be tied to Sean McVay, but Mike LaFleur has done an excellent job over the last three seasons as the team's offensive coordinator. Los Angeles led the NFL in points per game, total yards and passing yards this season. Matthew Stafford took his game to another level, passing for 46 touchdowns to just eight interceptions this season. Penix is frequently compared to Stafford, so it would make some sense. LaFleur's brother, Matt, is the head coach of the Green Bay Packers.
Advertisement
Probability: Low
Follow along with the team's coaching search using our Falcons interview tracker!
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons: John Harbaugh tops list of coaching candidates
English (US) ·