Updated Jan. 15, 2026, 8:45 p.m. ET
The Atlanta Falcons may have lost out on John Harbaugh for their head coach opening, but plenty of capable candidates remain. On Thursday, the team completed an interview with Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Halfley for its coaching vacancy.
Hafley’s defense finished 11th in points allowed last season, giving up 21.2 per contest. Green Bay ranked 11th in passing yards allowed and recorded 36 total sacks. Prior to joining the Packers in 2024, Hafley spent four years as the head coach at Boston College, leading the team to a 22–26 record.
Hafley is the seventh official candidate that the Falcons have interviewed thus far, and the fourth coordinator. As mentioned above, the Packers defensive coordinator does have prior head coaching experience, just not at the NFL level.
Atlanta has one of eight current head coach openings around the league, assuming Harbaugh takes the New York Giants job as expected. Check out the full list of coaches to interview for the Falcons’ coaching vacancy below.
Falcons’ completed head coach interviews | As of Jan. 15Jeff Hafley (Packers DC)Mike McDaniel (former Dolphins HC)John Harbaugh (former Ravens HC)Kevin Stefanski (former Browns HC)Klint Kubiak (Seahawks OC)Anthony Weaver (Dolphins DC)Aden Durde (Seahawks DC)Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.
-Follow the team’s head coach and GM search with our Falcons interview tracker!
