Falcons hiring former Rams special teams coordinator as assistant

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.

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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.

The Falcons introduced special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman on Wednesday afternoon, and now it appears another experienced special teams coach will join the staff. The team has hired a few other former coordinators as assistants.

Former New York Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand was hired as offensive passing-game coordinator, and former New England Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt was named quarterbacks coach.

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Falcons president of football Matt Ryan also hired former Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn to work in the front office under new general manager Ian Cunningham.

This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons hire former Rams special teams coach Chase Blackburn