The Atlanta Falcons have completed an interview with Mike McDaniel for the team’s head coach position. The organization, which is based in Atlanta, Georgia and competes in the NFL’s NFC South Division, is seeking its 20th head coach after parting ways with Raheem Morris at the end of the 2025 season. The Falcons began as an expansion franchise in 1965 and have participated in the Super Bowl twice, including appearances in 1998 and 2016 according to their official website.
A new leadership group led by Matt Ryan, now serving as president of football, is overseeing the search process with support from ZRG Partners and Sportsology Group. Owner Arthur Blank commented on changes to the search committee: “Our search committee will be structured a little bit differently than it has been in the past,” Blank said Thursday. “[It will] still be made up of a component of people that represent our leadership in all areas of our businesses, but we’re going to put heavy emphasis, we’re hiring this president of football first. That’s the goal, and over the next couple of days, we have a series of interviews set up. We want to get that person in their seat and have them lead the interviews for the head coach and general manager position going forward.”
The Falcons stated they will announce each interview once completed.
Mike McDaniel was most recently head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2022 through 2025. During his tenure, he led Miami to consecutive playoff appearances for the first time in more than two decades. Before joining Miami, McDaniel served as offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers after being promoted from run game coordinator following the 2020 season.
McDaniel’s coaching experience includes roles with several NFL teams since starting as an intern with Denver Broncos in 2015. He also worked with Houston Texans (offensive assistant), Washington Redskins (offensive assistant and wide receivers coach), Cleveland Browns (wide receivers coach), and previously spent time as an offensive assistant with Atlanta Falcons during their Super Bowl run in 2016—a year when Matt Ryan was quarterback and named league MVP.
The Falcons cited McDaniel’s varied experience across multiple organizations and early success taking on new responsibilities as reasons for his candidacy. In his second year leading Miami’s offense, he helped them achieve league-leading statistics in scoring and yardage while breaking franchise records.
Additionally, during his tenure as run game coordinator for San Francisco two years after taking that role, his unit ranked second in rushing yards and scored more rushing touchdowns than any other team.
McDaniel is associated with Mike and Kyle Shanahan’s coaching tree known for creative offensive strategies focused on running plays. His history includes adapting schemes to fit player strengths rather than enforcing rigid systems—an approach considered beneficial given Atlanta’s current roster featuring Bijan Robinson at running back along with experienced offensive linemen and developing quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
Freddie the Falcon serves as mascot for Atlanta’s NFL team according to its official website.
