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The Atlanta Falcons have named their final coordinator for the 2026 NFL season.
According to the Atlanta Falcons website, the team has hired special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman. Aukerman joins Kevin Stefanski’s staff after one season with the Miami Dolphins in the same role.
He has 26 years of coaching experience overall with 16 seasons in the NFL.
Craig Aukerman’s Coaching Resume
“Aukerman, who’s originally from Ohio, played wide receiver and defensive back for Findlay in his home state from 1995-98 and closed out his playing career as a two-time NAIA All-American and national champion. Findlay inducted Aukerman into its Hall of Fame in 2013.” Terrin Waack wrote in an Atlanta Falcons article.
Aukerman coached at the college level for ten years at Kent State University, Miami University, Western Kentucky University and University of Findlay.
After coaching at the collegiate level, Aukerman received an opportunity in the NFL in 2010 as a defensive assistant for the Denver Broncos.
“Aukerman was introduced to NFL special teams with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2012, when he became an assistant coach for the unit,” Waack wrote in the article. “Otherwise, he was a defensive assistant for the Jaguars in 2011. Aukerman entered the NFL ranks in 2010 as a defensive assistant for the Denver Broncos.”
The new Atlanta Falcons coordinator has spent most of his time in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans. He spent seven years in the Music City.
“While in Tennessee, Aukerman coached two Pro Bowls players in punter Brett Kern and long snapper Morgan Cox,” Waack wrote. “Kern earned the honors each year from 2017-19, and Cox did in 2022. Kern was also an Associate Press All-Pro first-team selection in 2019 and second-time pick in 2017.”
“Aukerman previously spent seven seasons with the Tennessee Titans. He was a special teams assistant in 2017 before getting promoted to special teams coordinator in 2018 and adding assistant head coach to his title from 2019-23. The Titans made it to the postseason four times during Aukerman’s tenure, claiming two AFC South titles and advancing into the divisional round twice.”
Before Tennessee, he was an assistant special teams coach for the Chargers for three years. Prior to joining the Miami Dolphins, he was the special teams coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams in 2024.
Aukerman’s 2025 Season With the Miami Dolphins
Miami finished 7-10 in 2025 and third in the AFC East.
Under Aukerman, the Dolphins were one of six teams to block two of their opponents’ field-goal attempts.
“In 2025, the Dolphins had the fourth-best field-goal success rate in the league, making 93.1% of their kicks,” Waack wrote. “Riley Patterson was Miami’s sole kicker and made 27 of his 29 attempts. He was 11-for-11 from 40 yards out and 3-of-4 from 50 yards out. His longest was a 54-yarder, which doubled as his longest throughout five years of play. Patterson will be a free agent come the new league year on March 11.”
“On kickoff, the Dolphins average 26.4 yards per return and allowed an average of 26.8 yards per return. Those were 11th and 23rd, respectively. They averaged a 31.1-yard starting position after kickoff, and their opponents did so at 31.1. Miami averaged 13.3 yards per punt return and allowed an average of 10.4 yards per punt return. Those marks ranked seventh and 17th, respectively.”
The Falcons will be getting an experienced special teams coach to booster an average-below average special teams in Atlanta.
DeonTay Smith is a journalist who covers the NFL for Heavy.com with a focus on the Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and the Baltimore Ravens. A graduate from Methodist University, Smith also covers local news for the Panama City News Herald and hosts his own YouTube podcast. More about DeonTay Smith
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