ESPN ranks Atlanta Falcons coaching staff entering 2025 season

Falcons' coaching staff ranked among worst in the NFL by ESPN

For the third consecutive year, the Atlanta Falcons will enter the season with a new defensive coordinator. Head coach Raheem Morris relieved Jimmy Lake of his duties following the team's late-season collapse, bringing in Jeff Ulbrich to call the defense in 2025.

Offensively, Zac Robinson is back after an impressive first season as offensive coordinator. Atlanta's coaching staff has a wealth of experience at the head coach and defensive coordinator positions, an up-and-coming offensive play-caller, and an underrated special teams coordinator in Marquice Williams.

So where does the Falcons' coaching staff rank among the 32 NFL teams ahead of the 2025 season? ESPN's Ben Solak listed Atlanta at No. 25 in his latest coaching staff rankings:

This is a very strong candidate for "ranking that will most make me look dumb in a few months." Morris, Robinson, and Ulbrich have all been in charge of very successful units, very recently. Ulbrich was the defensive coordinator for a stellar Jets defense over the past few seasons, but now we have to see him away from Robert Saleh. Robinson showed good creativity in his first year away from the McVay incubator, but he could never solve the problems presented to him by Kirk Cousins' lack of mobility. -- Ben Solak, ESPN

The Falcons had major ups and downs in 2024 but ultimately blew a chance to secure their first NFC South title since 2016. Michael Penix Jr. led the team to a win over the New York Giants in his first NFL start, putting Atlanta atop the division with two games left.

Despite a promising performance from Penix the following week, the Falcons came up short in an overtime loss to the Washington Commanders. Atlanta nearly won the game in regulation but kicker Riley Patterson missed a 56-yard walk-off attempt.

Morris was criticized for not using a timeout on that final drive and potentially costing the team a critical late-season win. Solak noted these time management issues in his coaching staff rankings:

And then there's Morris, who I think is an excellent personnel manager and creative defensive mind on the chalkboard. But the game management last season was brutal. The timeout mistake against the Commanders drew the biggest headline, but there was another the following week against the Panthers. -- Ben Solak, ESPN

Morris has to be better in this area going forward, however, the team's defensive shortcomings also played a major role. The Falcons defense gave up 74 combined points over the final two weeks of the season (37 points allowed per contest).

This is what prompted the team to bring in Ulbrich, whose familiarity with Morris should work to Atlanta's benefit in 2025. With so many new faces, though, the defense could take some time to gel. On the bright side, the Falcons offense should be one of the better units in the NFL.

For all of the criticisms, Morris did lead the team to its highest win total since 2017. It should be fun to see what this young Falcons team can do in Morris' second full season as head coach.