Falcons retain massive piece of defensive staff

When the Falcons decided to retain defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, the expectation was that most of the defensive staff would return. However, one name worth monitoring closely was defensive line coach Nate Ollie, who could have conceivably been in line for a promotion elsewhere.

Ollie and Ulbrich were instrumental in reviving a pass rush that had been dormant for two decades. The Falcons finished second-to-last in sacks during the 2024 campaign. This season, they flipped the script entirely, setting a franchise record with 57 sacks — the second-most in the league.

But the impact went well beyond raw sack totals. Ollie’s work with the young defensive linemen consistently showed up on Sundays. James Pearce Jr. recorded a rookie franchise-record 10.5 sacks, becoming the first rookie to reach double-digit sacks since Micah Parsons. Jalon Walker also put together a strong rookie season, while Brandon Dorlus, Ruke Orhorhoro, and Zach Harrison all made significant strides in their development.

Ollie’s success as a defensive line coach didn’t begin in Atlanta. Prior to joining the Falcons, he did outstanding work with both the Texans and Colts. While he may not be a household name around the league, he should be one for Falcons fans. Bringing him back for the 2026 season is a fantastic development.