The Atlanta Falcons have made changes to their regime, including hiring Matt Ryan as their president of football and Kevin Stefanski as their new head coach after recently interviewing the former two-time NFL Coach of the Year. Now, they are searching for a new general manager after parting ways with Terry Fontenot. Here are some of the candidates the Falcons have interviewed.
Tracking the Atlanta Falcons’ General Manager Search: Updates and Notable Contenders
The Falcons’ official team site reported that the team interviewed former New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas on Jan. 23. Douglas is currently serving as the general manager for the Philadelphia Eagles, who won the Super Bowl in 2025 but later suffered a playoff defeat to the San Francisco 49ers.
Douglas has won at the highest level, having been on staff for the Eagles’ Super Bowl run in the 2017-18 season when they defeated the New England Patriots. He has been part of winning teams and cultures and could bring that experience to Atlanta.
Atlanta also interviewed Kansas City Chiefs assistant general manager Mike Bradway on Jan. 23. Bradway has a track record of working with winning teams, as the Chiefs have been the most dominant franchise of this decade.
While he may not be the primary decision-maker in personnel matters as an assistant, his experience is significant, especially given his time in the scouting department with the Eagles from 2008 to 2017.
On Jan. 23, the Falcons interviewed Josh Williams, the director of scouting and football for the 49ers. He has been with the franchise since 2015. Although the 49ers lost in the playoffs to the Seahawks, they battled through injuries and gained traction throughout the season, due in part to their personnel decisions.
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Chicago Bears general manager Ian Cunningham was also interviewed. Cunningham has been in that role since 2022. While things looked bleak for the Bears for a period, the drafting of quarterback Caleb Williams has helped spark improvement. The team finished 11-6 and reached the divisional round before losing to the Los Angeles Rams.
Other interviews included Andy Weidl, the assistant general manager of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Houston Texans assistant general manager James Liipfert. The Falcons’ focus appears to be finding a general manager who can mesh with the existing and incoming staff and work effectively alongside new head coach Kevin Stefanski.
