The Atlanta Falcons have made another major financial commitment, and once again it’s not the player plenty of people expected to be next.
Bijan Robinson’s “hold-in” has been one of the early camp storylines in Flowery Branch, with the star running back waiting on a new extension. Drake London and Kyle Pitts already landed multi-year deals earlier this summer, which only fed the assumption that Robinson would be next in line.
Instead, the Falcons came out of Day 4 of training camp on Saturday with a different blockbuster. The team announced it had signed Matthew Bergeron to a massive extension.
Bergeron’s new deal runs four years and $96 million, with $60 million guaranteed. The extension begins in 2027, effectively binding the Falcons to Bergeron financially for three seasons before the contract becomes more flexible in years three and four.
“This means the world. I'm from Canada, and the second I got to Atlanta everybody welcomed me with open arms,” Bergeron told Atlanta Falcons reporter Tori McElhaney after the deal was official.
“ Atlanta is a special place for me and my family. And now, I have the resources to give back to a community that has given me so much and changed my life.”
The money puts Bergeron in rare company. He becomes the fifth-highest-paid guard in the league at $24 million per year, behind teammate Chris Lindstrom, who leads the way.
The size of the deal is a little surprising given Bergeron’s 2025 season, which looked like a step back after two solid first years in the league. Still, Pro Football Focus ranked him No. 22 among 81 eligible offensive guards.
Bergeron came to Atlanta as a second-round pick after then general manager Terry Fontenot traded up to get him in 2023. He played offensive tackle at Syracuse, and there has been some chatter online about whether he could slide over to right tackle after the losses of both Kaleb McGary and Storm Norton, but that’s all it appears to be at this point.
The Falcons have continued to pour resources into non-premium positions in recent years, using high draft picks and big contracts on players like Robinson, Pitts and safety Jessie Bates III. Bergeron’s extension fits that pattern.
At the same time, Cunningham has shown a different draft-day philosophy early in his tenure with the Falcons, using his first two picks in April on premium positions by selecting cornerback Avieon Terrell and wide receiver Zachariah Branch.
So while Robinson is still waiting, Atlanta has already locked up another key piece - and another guard - with a contract that lands as one of the biggest surprises of camp.
In Other News...
Falcons Camp Battle Is Heating Up At Two Crucial Positions
Four straight morning practices have given Falcons camp a steady rhythm, and the early reps are starting to sort out which position groups are truly open for business. Quarterback work has been front and center in 11-on-11s, with Jack Strand and Cooper Rush both seeing plenty of action as the team uses the first stretch of camp to test depth, timing and command under pressure.
The competition is just as active on the defensive side, where rookies are making their case for more than just developmental snaps. Avieon Terrell is in the mix, and the Falcons have also been using the first weeks of camp to evaluate young defenders as Kevin Stefanski stresses the value of competition for roster spots, a reminder that early practice reps can carry real weight once the roster picture starts to tighten. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Are Sending A Clear Message With Michael Penix Jr
Patrick Mahomes and Daniel Jones are already back in the full-contact mix at their respective training camps, which only sharpens the spotlight on Michael Penix Jr. as Atlanta settles into its own summer routine. The Falcons are taking a more patient path with their young quarterback after his prior injury, keeping the focus on recovery and making sure he is not rushed while the rest of the league moves deeper into camp.
Atlanta has also added Tua Tagovailoa to bolster the quarterback room and give the roster some insurance while Penix continues to work back. It is a clear sign the Falcons are willing to protect their long view at the position, even if that means waiting a little longer before Penix is fully cleared and the competition around him looks more complete. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Camp Just Made Atlantas QB And Bijan Stakes Harder To Ignore
The Falcons wrapped up their first week of training camp with a few notable developments on both sides of the ball. Rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. took part in limited drills as he continues recovering, while the team also locked in offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron with a four-year contract extension, a move that gives Atlanta some stability up front as camp begins to settle into a rhythm.
Bijan Robinson, meanwhile, remained out of drills as his contract situation stayed unresolved, leaving one of the teams most important offensive pieces on the sideline during an early stretch that usually helps set the tone for the fall. There was a lighter note in the mix, too, as brothers A.J. and Avieon Terrell practiced together for the first time as teammates, but the bigger questions around Penix and Robinson are the ones that will keep hovering as camp moves on. [Read more 🡒]