\n The News, Now<\/p>\n
Key developments across the organization, from the front office to the coaching staff and everything in between<\/p>\n
One of the most exciting pieces of news to come out of the week involved the announcement of where the Falcons will hold their 2026 international game: Madrid, Spain.<\/a><\/p>\n This is a continuation of the league’s effort to grow the game internationally. In fact, earlier this month the league reached a multi-year deal<\/a> to remain playing at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernab\u00e9u Stadium.<\/p>\n The first NFL regular-season game in Spain was played at the Bernab\u00e9u in November of last season. The Miami Dolphins beat the Washington Commanders, 16-13, in overtime. The final count of total attendance at the Bernab\u00e9u that day was 78,610.<\/p>\n “The passion for the NFL in Spain is at an all\u2011time high, and welcoming the Atlanta Falcons to Madrid for a regular\u2011season game is a historic moment for our growing fanbase,” NFL Country Manager Rafa de los Santos said. “I’m sure the Falcons will enjoy competing in such an iconic stadium as the Bernab\u00e9u, in one of the world’s great sporting capitals, Madrid, and that fans will once again experience firsthand the intensity, speed, and talent that make the NFL unique.”<\/p>\n Returning from the NFL Scouting Combine last week, Will McFadden compiled a list of 13 players who stood out<\/a> during the on-field workouts, based on the Falcons’ needs this offseason. A few players spotlighted were WR Deion Burks from Oklahoma, LB Sonny Styles from Ohio State and OT Monroe Freeling from Georgia.<\/p>\n McFadden also highlighted the wide receiver position<\/a>, and how it is one in which the Falcons could work to fortify this offseason. How the Falcons choose to do so could give an early clue as to Atlanta’s offseason approach to roster building.<\/p>\n “It’s a premium position,” general manager Ian Cunningham said. “I feel like at this event it’s my job to look at every single position, but definitely going to make sure we evaluate the receivers as well.”<\/p>\n Tori McElhaney, meanwhile, noted what the national media consensus was about the Falcons’ quarterback position in 2026.<\/a> As Cunningham announced at the combine, the Falcons are set to release Kirk Cousins at the start of the new league year next week. Michael Penix Jr. is actively recovering from ACL surgery in November. The consensus amongst media at the combine was pretty airtight. All agreed the Falcons needed to insulate the quarterback position in 2026. How the organization does that, however, was up for debate.<\/p>\n Regardless of what the Falcons ultimately decide to do in their quarterback room, head coach Kevin Stefanski was adamant that there needs to be one clear vision and voice<\/a>, from top to bottom.<\/p>\n “When you’re in that quarterback room, you want to make sure that the voice is singular,” Stefanski said. “Even though it may be multiple people, the voice and what you’re telling the player is singular. \u2026 That’s part of the benefit of having Tommy Reese, having Alex Van Pelk, these are guys that I’ve coached with, guys that I believe what they believe. We’re all speaking the same language.”<\/p>\n There was some pretty big Falcons-adjacent news that broke this week, with former Falcons center Drew Dalman informing his current team \u2014 the Chicago Bears \u2014 his plans to retire after five seasons.<\/a><\/p>\n