This year was a tough break for the Atlanta Falcons. Their 8-9 record was good enough for a three-way tie at the top of the NFC South, but they lost out on the tiebreaker. To add insult to injury, the Los Angeles Rams are walking into the playoffs with Atlanta’s first-round pick in their back pocket. Management decided to wipe the slate clean, firing head coach Raheem Morris alongside GM Terry Fontenot. Now, the search for new leadership begins.
Who will emerge as Atlanta’s next head coach? Let’s break down the odds on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Falcons next head coach odds
The Falcons need some profound change. They haven’t posted a record above .500 since 2017, and Raheem Morris couldn’t find the answers in two seasons at the helm. This has the feel of a rebuild for the Falcons more than a retool. But their prospective head coaching candidates are all over the map.
Klint Kubiak (+300) leads the field. The son of longtime head coach Gary Kubiak, Klint has bounced around in a variety of offensive roles over the his past decade in the league. That includes time as offensive coordinator for the Vikings and Saints, and as passing coordinator for Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers. Kubiak parlayed his success into the OC job for the Seattle Seahawks this season, and his team is No. 1 in offensive DVOA. Atlanta may want to shift back to an offense-first mentality, and if it does, Kubiak would be the top candidate.
Following that logic would explain why Kevin Stefanski (+400) is second in the odds. After an up-and-down run in Cleveland, Stefanski hits the open market as one of the top coaches available. Stefanski won Coach of the Year both times he led the Browns to the playoffs, an impressive achievement in its own right. Despite a 20-year career in the NFL, Stefanski is only 43 years old and would bring experience to the coaching staff alongside a sharp offensive mind without being too stodgy.
Speaking of stodgy, Mike McCarthy (+800) is somehow third in the odds. McCarthy coached the Packers for 13 years, leading them to their 2010 Super Bowl victory. After being let go in 2018, McCarthy helmed the Dallas Cowboys up through this past season, coaching them to three playoff appearances but only one playoff win. At 62 years old, he’s not what you think of when it comes to a rebuild hire. The Falcons could do better, but they could certainly do worse.
Rounding out the top five in odds are Matt Nagy (+800) and Joe Brady (+800), two popular candidates in this head coaching cycle. Nagy has been OC for the Chiefs since flaming out as the Bears’ head coach and would be a respectable hire after some seasoning under Andy Reid. Joe Brady has been an exceptional coordinator for the Bills and is one of the most exciting first-time head coaches if lured away from Buffalo.
Here’s a look at the whole field for Atlanta’s top job:
It feels like a pivotal offseason for the Falcons’ future. Let’s see how they do in the hiring cycle.
