The Atlanta Falcons are in search of their 20th head coach in franchise history. The organization parted ways with Raheem Morris after the team's final game of the 2025 season. Falcons leadership began the hunt to find his successor with the assistance of ZRG Partners and Sportsology Group.
The Atlanta Falcons editorial staff will document that process extensively in this Falcons head coach tracker.
The Falcons will announce these interviews after they are completed with each candidate. We'll provide those updates here, along with relevant information and background about each candidate.
The NFL has specific rules for how and when teams can conduct these interviews. They are outlined here.
We've compiled everything you need to know about the Falcons' search for the organization's next head coach in one easy location.
KEVIN STEFANSKI
The Atlanta Falcons named Kevin Stefanski the 20th head coach in franchise history on Saturday, Jan. 17, following a second interview with the Falcons' search committee. The committee included owner Arthur Blank, president and CEO Greg Beadles, president of football Matt Ryan and vice president of executive strategy for AMBSE Josh Blank.
Stefanski held his first interview with the group on Sunday, Jan. 11.
"We're thrilled to land a lead-by-example leader in Kevin Stefanski who brings a clear vision for his staff, our team and a closely aligned focus on building this team on fundamentals, toughness and active collaboration with every area of the football operation," Ryan said. "Coach Stefanski is a team-first leader who puts a premium on accountability for everyone and a player-driven culture. His experience in Cleveland and Minnesota has given him a great understanding of the importance of working in sync with scouting, personnel and the rest of the football staff to maximize talent across the roster and in doing everything possible to put our players in the best position to succeed. Kevin's style of leadership, combined with the staff and infrastructure in place here in Atlanta, gives us confidence in our shared vision for the team and we are excited to have him as the leader of our football team."
Previous role: Stefanski spent six seasons as head coach for the Cleveland Browns from 2020 through the end of the 2025 season.
Resume highlights:
- Under Stefanski's leadership, the Browns made their first playoff appearance since 2002, with an 11-5 record his first season. That year, he earned AP NFL Coach of the Year honors. He won again in 2023, after he marked another 11-win season and playoff berth for the franchise.
- Prior to his time in Cleveland, Stefanski was a loyal Minnesota Viking. He held various positions with the Vikings, including assistant head coach, tight ends coach, running backs coach and quarterbacks coach. When the Vikings went through coaching changes in 2018, Stefanski became the interim offensive coordinator, a position he retained in official capacity in 2019.
ANTONIO PIERCE
Interview date: Friday, Jan. 16
Previous role: Pierce was the head coach for the Las Vegas Raiders until the end of the 2024 season. He was the interim head coach the season prior.
Resume highlights:
- Pierce began his NFL tenure as a linebackers coach with the Raiders from 2022-23. He kept that responsibility in 2023 before being named the interim head coach after Josh McDaniels was fired in November. The Raiders went 5-4 with Pierce at the temporary helm, and he was named the official head coach after the season's conclusion.
- After starting his coaching career at Long Beach Poly High School, Pierce made the jump to the college ranks in 2018 as the linebackers coach/recruiting coordinator for Arizona State University before being promoted to defensive coordinator/assistant head coach in 2020.
- Going undrafted in the 2001 NFL Draft, Piece was signed as a free agent with the then-Washington Redskins. He became one of Washington's starting inside linebackers in 2004, logging a career high 114 tackles, one forced fumble, one sack and two interceptions. He played his final five seasons with the New York Giants, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2006.
JESSE MINTER
Interview date: Thursday, Jan. 15
Current role: Minter has been the Los Angeles Chargers' defensive coordinator since 2024.
Resume highlights:
- Minter joined the Chargers with head coach Jim Harbaugh after the two worked together at the University of Michigan from 2022-23. The Chargers have since gone 11-6 in both seasons and made the playoffs both times.
- Minter coached the following defensive Pro Bowlers in Los Angeles: outside linebacker Khalil Mack (2024), defensive end Joey Bosa (2024), outside linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu (2025) and safety Derwin James Jr. (2024-25).
- Minter has primarily worked at the collegiate level, with 14 years of experience there. He was the Baltimore Ravens' defensive assistant from 2017-19 and defensive backs coach in 2020. The Ravens went to the playoffs three times during Minter's tenure.
JEFF HAFLEY
Interview date: Thursday, Jan. 15
Current role: Hafley is the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers.
Resume highlights:
- Hafley has been the defensive coordinator for the Packers since 2024. In his first season, Green Bay had the No. 5 total defense and No. 6 scoring defense. It was the first time since 2010, when the Packers won the Super Bowl, that the defense ranked top 10 in both regards.
- Prior to taking the defensive coordinator position in Green Bay, Hafley was the head coach of Boston College from 2020-23. Before that, he was the co-defensive coordinator at Ohio State University.
- Though he has made a name for himself as a college coach, Hafley's stops in the NFL include time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers — all three as a defensive backs coach.
MIKE McDANIEL
Interview date: Monday, Jan. 12
Previous role: McDaniel was the Miami Dolphins' head coach from 2022-25.
Resume highlights:
- At the helm of the Dolphins franchise, McDaniel led Miami to back-to-back playoff appearances in 2022 and 2023. This was the first time in over 20 years the franchise had consecutive postseason berths.
- Prior to taking the Miami head coaching job, McDaniel was the San Francisco 49ers' offensive coordinator in 2021 after being promoted from run game coordinator following the 2020 season.
- Since joining the league in 2015 as an intern with the Denver Broncos, McDaniel has held positions with the Houston Texans (offensive assistant), Washington Redskins (offensive assistant and wide receivers coach), Cleveland Browns (wide receivers coach), and Atlanta Falcons (offensive assistant).
JOHN HARBAUGH
Interview date: Monday, Jan. 12
Previous role: Harbaugh was the Baltimore Ravens' head coach for 18 years from 2008-25.
Resume highlights:
- Nearly two decades of coaching experience with one team will lend itself to quite a number of accolades. For Harbaugh and the Ravens, that list is extensive, including 12 playoff appearances, four AFC championship game appearances and one Super Bowl win.
- After the Ravens experienced a playoff drought from 2015-17, they bounced back with the emergence of Lamar Jackson at quarterback. By 2019, the Ravens were back to their winning ways, finishing that season 14-2 and securing the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Harbaugh was named the AP NFL Coach of the Year following that 2019 run.
- Harbaugh got his start in the league as the special teams coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1998-2006. He moved to coach defensive backs in 2007 before making the jump to the Ravens to be their head coach.
ADEN DURDE
Interview date: Saturday, Jan. 10
Current role: Durde has been the defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks since 2024.
Resume highlights:
- Durde joined the Seahawks at the same time as head coach Mike Macdonald in 2024. Immediately, Macdonald and his staff produced a 10-7 record last season and then a 14-3 record this season. Seattle didn't make the playoffs last year, but the Seahawks recently clinched the NFC West title and No. 1 seed in the conference going into the postseason. It was the franchise's first division title since 2020 and the first appearance as the top seed since 2014. The team's 14 wins this season set a new franchise record.
- Durde has been with four NFL teams since 2014 and spent the most time with the Dallas Cowboys during two different stints. He got his start in the league as a coaching intern for the Cowboys in 2014-15 and then returned to Dallas from 2021-23 as the defensive line coach.
- Durde previously coached overseas in the BAFA National Leagues. He was the London Warriors' defensive coordinator from 2011-16, overlapping a bit with his NFL responsibilities in the later years. Durde is originally from North London, England.
KLINT KUBIAK
Interview date: Saturday, Jan. 10
Current role: Kubiak is the current offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks.
Resume highlights:
- Since joining the league's coaching ranks in 2015, Kubiak has spent time with the Minnesota Vikings (quarterbacks coach, offensive coordinator), Denver Broncos (passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach), San Francisco (passing game coordinator) and New Orleans Saints (offensive coordinator).
- He leads one of the hottest offenses in football at the current moment, the Seahawks — a team that most recently clinched a tough NFC West title and No. 1 seed in the conference going into the postseason. It was the franchise's first division title since 2020 and the first appearance as the top seed since 2014. The team's 14 wins this season set a new franchise record.
- Offensively, the Seahawks unit finished the regular season third in scoring and tied for seventh in total yardage.
ANTHONY WEAVER
Interview date: Saturday, Jan. 10
Current role: Weaver joined the Miami Dolphins as defensive coordinator in 2024.
Resume highlights:
- Weaver put together a 7-season career as a defensive end in the league after being drafted in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He spent time on the Baltimore Ravens' vaunted defensive line and with the Houston Texans before retiring and officially picking up coaching responsibilities in 2010.
- His coaching stops include time with the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns as their defensive line coach. In 2021, he returned to Baltimore to be the run game coordinator and defensive line coach before being promoted to assistant head coach/defensive line coach for his final two seasons.
- Since becoming the Dolphins' defensive coordinator, Weaver has helped the unit allow 22 points per game the last two seasons, which ranks 15th in the league during that time.
