New Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski is starting to build his new staff, and his first major hire is a reunion with offensive line coach Bill Callahan, per team reporter Tori McElhaney.
Callahan, 69, is one of the most respected OL coaches in the NFL. He has coached for nine different teams, including Stefanski’s Browns from 2020 to 2023. In 2024, he followed his son and then-Browns offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, to Tennessee when he was hired as the Titans’ head coach.
Callahan’s offensive line ranked fifth and sixth in sacks allowed during his two seasons as their coach despite the team’s investments in the unit. That was representative of the entire offense, though, as their quarterbacks had a tendency to hold onto the ball for too long, partially because receivers were not open downfield.
When the Titans fired Brian Callahan in October, his father unsurprisingly left the team shortly after. In another predictable move, he followed Stefanski to Atlanta, something that was referenced by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo shortly after Stefanski was hired.
In Atlanta, Callahan will replace Dwayne Ledford, who was also the Falcons’ run game coordinator. He is expected to draw interest around the league, per Garafolo. Perhaps he could follow Arthur Smith, the coach who brought him into the NFL in 2021 after 15 years at the college level, to his next destination.
Stefanski is expected to take other Browns assistants with him. At the top of his list is offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, who will likely take the same job in Atlanta
Big win for the Falcons and Stefanski. His offense worked a whole lot better when he had Callahan, and not too shabby for Callahan walking into a situation with some serious o-line talent.
Curious to see where Ledford ends up. Seems like he’d be a big upgrade coaching the offensive line for a bunch of teams.
There was rumblings Stefanski hiring Joe Thomas as O-line coach but not sure if that was going to be in Cleveland. Joe Thomas would be a good coach I’d imagine.
Browns or bengals coordinator? That a typo?
Bill Callahan? Bengals OC that took them Superbowl right?
The Falcons already have a great line, hopefully Callahan wont mess it up. He didnt do a very good job with the Titans but they still lacked talent as well. Wasnt an ideal situation, like this one.
Damn. Was hoping he’d come to the Texans with his legendary skills.
One of the best o-line coaches in the last 15 plus years, still doing it at a high level.