Atlanta, GA – The Atlanta Falcons’ new coaching staff is officially set. The team announced on January 26, 2026, the hiring of Craig Aukerman as the special teams coordinator, completing the trio of coordinators who will work under first-year head coach Kevin Stefanski.
Aukerman, a veteran special teams coach with over a decade of NFL experience, most recently served in the same role with the Tennessee Titans. His hiring follows the earlier appointments of Zac Robinson as offensive coordinator and Jimmy Lake as defensive coordinator. This move signals a clear intent from Stefanski and the organization to establish stability and expertise across all phases of the game as they embark on a new era.
"Craig brings a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record of developing effective special teams units," Stefanski said in a statement. "His attention to detail and teaching ability will be crucial for our team. With Zac, Jimmy, and now Craig in place, we have a strong foundation to build upon."
The special teams unit will be a focal point for improvement in 2026. Key decisions loom, including the future of punter Trenton Gill, who was just signed to a reserve/future contract for 2026, and the return game, which lacked consistency throughout the 2025 season. Aukerman’s task will be to instill discipline, create explosive plays in the return game, and ensure the coverage units are reliable.
This completed staff assembly comes just ahead of Stefanski’s introductory press conference, scheduled for January 27, and as the front office continues its parallel search for a new General Manager. The coordinated effort to build the coaching staff quickly allows the Falcons to hit the ground running for the 2026 offseason, which officially begins with the Senior Bowl this week.