Falcons make veteran line coach Bill Callahan the first offensive assistant on Stefanski's staff

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons hired veteran offensive line coach Bill Callahan on Tuesday, making one of the NFL's most-experienced coaches the first offensive assistant added to new coach Kevin Stefanski’s staff.

The addition of Callahan, 69, comes one day after the team announced defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will return.

Callahan was the Tennessee Titans' offensive line coach the past two years, including time working for his son, Brian Callahan, who was fired as coach on Oct. 14.

Bill Callahan has coached 48 years in college and the NFL. He has had 14 offensive linemen earn 35 Pro Bowl selections in his 27 years in the NFL. Callahan coached the Cleveland Browns' offensive line for four years (2020-23) before his time with Tennessee.

Callahan was Nebraska's head coach from 2004-07 and the Oakland Raiders' head coach from 2002-03 as well as time as interim head coach with Washington in 2019.

Callahan also coached the offensive lines for the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets.

Stefanski was hired on Saturday night as the replacement for Raheem Morris, who was fired following an 8-9 finish in his second season. New Falcons president of football Matt Ryan, who also holds most of the Falcons’ major passing records, is continuing his search to replace fired general manager Terry Fontenot.

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