Greg Beadles named president, CEO of Atlanta Falcons
Big changes for Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons have announced big changes, including firing their head coach and general manager and restructuring their front office.
ATLANTA - The Atlanta Falcons are entering a sweeping new era of leadership after the team fired head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot, followed by additional front-office restructuring outlined in a letter to fans from owner Arthur M. Blank.
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What they're saying:
In a letter released Monday morning, Blank acknowledged prolonged frustration among fans and said the organization recently conducted a comprehensive review of its football operations with the help of an external consulting firm. The Falcons finished the 2025 season 8-9 and missed the playoffs for a seventh straight year.
Blank announced the team will not only hire a new head coach and general manager for the 2026 season, but will also create a new president of football position. That role will oversee all football operations and hold final decision-making authority, with both the head coach and general manager reporting to that position. The new president of football will report directly to Blank.
Searches for the head coach and general manager are already underway. ZRG Partners has been retained to assist with the head coach search, while Sportsology Group is helping identify a new general manager and advising on a broader front-office restructure. No timeline has been announced for either hire.
Blank also confirmed a leadership transition on the business side of the franchise. Greg Beadles has been elevated to president and CEO of the Atlanta Falcons, effective immediately, succeeding Rich McKay. Beadles will oversee all business operations and work closely with the incoming president of football.
McKay will continue in an expanded role within Arthur M. Blank Sports and Entertainment, focusing on major upcoming events in Atlanta, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the NFL’s 2028 Super Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, as well as stadium renovations and development of a new training facility.
Blank said the changes are designed to restore trust and build a team capable of sustained success.
"Accountability cannot be shared or softened," Blank wrote. "Every decision will be made with one clear objective — building a team capable of sustained success and competing for championships."
More about Greg Beadles
What we know:
Greg Beadles enters his new role as president and CEO of the Atlanta Falcons with more than three decades of experience inside the organization, according to the Falcons.
Beadles, a Georgia native and lifelong Falcons fan, began his career with the team as an intern after earning a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and a master’s degree from Georgia State University. He is now starting his 32nd year with the franchise.
Over the past three years as team president, Beadles oversaw day-to-day business operations including finance, marketing, communications, digital, human resources and community relations, while also helping guide game presentation, retail, ticket sales and fan engagement. During that time, the Falcons expanded and renovated their Flowery Branch headquarters and consistently ranked among the NFL’s top teams in overall gameday satisfaction, according to league surveys.
Beadles has reportedly played a central role in shaping Arthur M. Blank Sports and Entertainment into a multi-property sports organization. He was instrumental in the acquisition of Atlanta United and served as a lead executive in the financing, design and construction of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which was named Sports Facility of the Year by Sports Business Journal in 2018.
As a senior executive with AMBSE, Beadles helped introduce innovations now common across major sports venues, including digital ticketing, cashless stadiums and fan-friendly pricing. He also coordinated planning efforts with the NFL for Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta.
Beadles succeeds Rich McKay as Falcons CEO. McKay, who held the role since 2011, will continue as CEO of AMB Sports and Entertainment. Falcons owner Arthur M. Blank said Beadles’ institutional knowledge and leadership made him a natural choice for the expanded role.
Outside the organization, Beadles serves on the NFL’s Flag Football Committee and Arthur Blank’s Board of Trustees. He is also active in several education-focused nonprofit boards in Georgia, according to the Falcons.