The Atlanta Falcons have completed an interview with Aden Durde for the team’s head coach position. This move comes as the organization seeks its 20th head coach in franchise history after parting ways with Raheem Morris at the end of the 2025 season.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank discussed changes to the search process, stating, “Our search committee will be structured a little bit differently than it has been in the past. [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.”
Durde currently serves as defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, a role he took on in 2024. Under his tenure alongside head coach Mike Macdonald, Seattle achieved a 10-7 record last season and improved to 14-3 this season. The Seahawks clinched their first NFC West title since 2020 and secured the No. 1 seed in the conference for the first time since 2014.
Durde’s NFL coaching experience includes roles with four teams since 2014, most notably two stints with the Dallas Cowboys. He began as a coaching intern with Dallas (2014-15) and returned as defensive line coach from 2021-23. He also coached overseas as defensive coordinator for the London Warriors from 2011-16.
Durde is familiar with Atlanta, having worked for the Falcons as a coaching intern in 2016, defensive assistant from 2018-19, and outside linebackers coach in 2020. Jeff Ulbrich was interim defensive coordinator during Durde’s final year in Atlanta; Ulbrich rejoined last season as defensive coordinator and improved Atlanta’s pass rush performance.
Arthur Blank said he would not require staff decisions from whoever becomes head coach but recommended keeping Ulbrich due to recent progress: “He won’t dictate to the new head coach how to build the staff, but Blank would recommend retaining Brich given the defense’s recent improvement under his guidance.”
Durde’s track record shows improvement wherever he has coached. During his time with Dallas, their defense ranked higher each year; by his final season they were fifth overall both in points allowed and yards allowed. In Seattle, team rankings improved significantly under his leadership—moving from tied for 11th in sacks before his arrival to seventh by this season.
The Falcons are looking for continued development among their young defensive core, which includes recent first-round draft picks Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., along with other young players such as Xavier Watts, Billy Bowman Jr., Bradon Dorlus, and Ruke Orhorhoro.
The Atlanta Falcons are based in Atlanta, Georgia and compete in the National Football League’s NFC South Division official website. The team started as an expansion franchise in 1965 official website and has participated twice in Super Bowls—in 1998 and again in 2016 official website. Freddie the Falcon serves as their mascot official website.
The organization plans to announce further updates about additional candidates after each interview is completed.
