The page has officially turned. On a day that signals the true beginning of the Atlanta Falcons’ 2026 offseason program, the franchise formally introduced the two men tasked with orchestrating significant portions of the team’s on-field identity. In a media availability at Flowery Branch, new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and new special teams coordinator Craig Auckerman laid out their initial visions, providing the first concrete glimpses into the philosophical shifts awaiting the team this fall.
For Rees, the opportunity represents a homecoming of sorts and a critical step in his rapid coaching ascent. Having spent the previous season as the passing game specialist for the Cleveland Browns under head coach Kevin Stefanski, Rees brings a perspective forged in one of the league’s more innovative offensive systems. He was quick to highlight the collaborative dynamic that defined his time there, a trait he plans to import to Atlanta.
“The beauty of my time in Cleveland was the collaborative environment that Kevin fostered,” Rees stated, addressing reporters. “It wasn’t about one voice dictating everything. It was a room where ideas were challenged, refined, and built upon collectively. That’s the culture I want to help build here. It’s about putting our players in the best position to succeed by utilizing all the smart minds in the building.”
This emphasis on collaboration is particularly telling. It suggests an offensive approach that will be adaptable, potentially blending Rees’s concepts with the existing framework and the overarching vision of the head coach. For a Falcons offense that has, in recent years, oscillated between explosive and inconsistent, the promise of a unified, multi-voice game-planning process is an intriguing development. Rees’s background, which includes a successful stint as the offensive coordinator at the University of Alabama, points to a scheme that values balance, quarterback development, and exploiting defensive mismatches through both the pass and the run. The specifics of how that translates with the Falcons’ current personnel remain the offseason’s central mystery, but the foundational principle of collective intelligence is now firmly established.
While the offense seeks a new harmonious voice, the special teams unit is receiving a leader with a clear, foundational blueprint. Craig Auckerman, taking over the coordinator role, spoke with the measured confidence of a coach who understands that games are often won and lost in the field position battle. His vision is less about revolutionary trick plays and more about mastering the fundamentals that create a consistent advantage.
“My philosophy starts with discipline and situational awareness,” Auckerman explained. “It’s about the details of leverage on coverage teams, the operation time on field goals, and the decision-making of our returners. We will be a fundamentally sound unit that plays fast and physical. Success in the third phase isn’t accidental; it’s engineered through repetition and accountability.”
Auckerman’s appointment is part of a broader, deliberate overhaul of the Falcons’ special teams. His mission to instill core competencies is already being supported by reported additions to his staff. According to a report by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Falcons are expected to hire former Los Angeles Rams special teams coordinator and New York Giants Super Bowl XLVI hero Chase Blackburn as the assistant special teams coach. Blackburn, who famously intercepted a Tom Brady pass in that championship game, brings both recent coordinator experience and a player’s perspective from his decade-long NFL career. This pairing of Auckerman’s structured philosophy with Blackburn’s proven experience and fiery demeanor suggests the Falcons are committing significant resources to elevating a unit that has been merely adequate in recent seasons.
The contrast between the day’s official introductions and the lingering cloud from the previous day was stark. The positive momentum of the press conference stood in direct opposition to the sobering news involving rookie edge rusher James Pearce Jr. As reported by ESPN, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich addressed Pearce’s arrest on multiple felony charges, stating he was “obviously disappointed” by the situation. The legal proceedings cast a significant shadow over the young pass rusher’s immediate future and serve as an untimely reminder of the off-field variables that can disrupt even the most carefully laid team-building plans. While Ulbrich and the defensive staff must now plan for potential contingency, the offensive and special teams introductions were squarely focused on the future they can control.
Ultimately, Wednesday’s media availability was about establishing a new baseline. In Tommy Rees, the Falcons have invested in a bright, collaborative offensive mind whose success will be intrinsically linked to his ability to merge ideas and maximize the talent on the roster. His every word hinted at a modern, inclusive process, a departure from more rigid, top-down offensive structures.
In Craig Auckerman, they have installed a special teams commander who preaches the gospel of fundamentals, a direct and necessary response to the costly, hidden-yardage mistakes that have plagued the team. The reported addition of Chase Blackburn only reinforces the seriousness of this commitment.
These moves are the first, critical strokes on the blank canvas of the 2026 season. The X’s and O’s will be drawn in the coming months through OTAs, minicamps, and training camp. The results will be judged on Sundays in the fall. But the message from Flowery Branch is now clear: new leadership is in place, with distinct philosophies aimed at building a smarter, more disciplined, and more complete football team. The collaboration on offense and the foundation on special teams are now the stated missions. The work to turn that statement into reality begins today.