Falcons hiring former Rams special teams coordinator as assistant

By Source / Published on Thursday, 12 Feb 2026 00:15 AM / No Comments / 53 views

The Atlanta Falcons are expected to hire Chase Blackburn as their new assistant special teams coach, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported on Wednesday. Blackburn spent the last three seasons as the Los Angeles Rams special teams coordinator (2023-2025) but was fired after the team’s Week 16 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

The Rams gave up a 58-yard punt return touchdown to Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, which proved costly in the team’s 38-37 overtime loss. That win gave Seattle home-field advantage in the playoffs. Los Angeles’ special teams unit plagued the team all season long, even after Blackburn was fired.

Blackburn knows the NFC South well. He spent four seasons as the special teams coordinator for the Carolina Panthers (2018-2021), and one season with the Tennessee Titans as the assistant special teams coach in 2022.