Former Falcons stars are making the case that Atlanta could be one of the NFC’s surprise teams in 2026, and they’re not being shy about it.
Asante Samuel, who spent time in Atlanta, said on X/Twitter that the Falcons are worth watching closely this season. He went a step further with a direct prediction: “The Falcons are a team to look out for this season,” Samuel posted. “Don’t be surprised if the Falcons win the NFC South.”
That kind of optimism lines up with what Jessie Tuggle sees from the current roster. The longtime Falcons linebacker, a five-time Pro Bowler and four-time NFL tackles leader, pointed to the talent already in place on both sides of the ball. Atlanta’s offensive core includes running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts Sr., while the defense features end Jalon Walker, cornerback AJ Terrell and safety Jessie Bates.
“This team has enough star power to be very competitive in the NFC South and hopefully win it,” Tuggle, a Ring of Honor member, told the Falcons’ Friday Five podcast.
He didn’t stop there.
“This is a team that’s going to go out and compete. This is a team that’s going to go out and win.
And I’m excited to come and be a fan, and sit there and watch it live. This is going to be a good year.”
Atlanta is trying to end the NFL’s second-longest playoff drought, an eight-season stretch that last included a postseason appearance in 2017-2018. The franchise’s most recent NFC South title came in 2016-2017, the same season it reached the Super Bowl.
Samuel singled out quarterback Tua Tagovailoa as the player who most catches his eye. Tagovailoa joined Atlanta from the Miami Dolphins in March and is currently in a starting quarterback battle with third-year signal caller Michael Penix Jr. In Miami, the seventh-year quarterback had his ups and downs, but he also built a strong résumé, including the league’s passing yards crown, the highest completion percentage and the passer rating lead during his six seasons with the Dolphins.
“Tua Tagovailoa to the Falcons is a good fit,” Samuel also said when projecting Atlanta’s season.
Tuggle, meanwhile, has already spoken with new head coach Kevin Stefanski, who was hired after going 45-56 with the Cleveland Browns from 2020 to 2025 and winning two Coach of the Year awards. Tuggle said he wants to see the city come alive again when the regular season opens Sept. 13 at the Aaron Rodgers-led Pittsburgh Steelers.
“I’m hoping the atmosphere comes again because I would love for the young coaching staff to experience that again,” Tuggle said.
He also recalled what he told Stefanski in their conversation.
“Talking to Stefanski, he called me and asked my opinion about things. I said, ‘We haven’t been to the playoffs since Matt Ryan.
Get this team to the playoffs, the Atlanta fanbase is going to absolutely love you.’ And they will.
They’re just waiting. They’re so hungry.”
In Other News...
This Falcons Veteran Is Suddenly Hard To Ignore Up Front
The Falcons went into the spring looking for help up front, and DaShawn Hand has quickly made himself part of the conversation. Signed to a one-year deal to stiffen the run defense and help bring along a young group of defensive tackles, the veteran has been noticeable enough during minicamp to draw attention from both the coaching staff and the beat writers covering the team.
Marc Raimondi singled Hand out as one of the defensive lines key spring performers, and that kind of buzz matters for a unit still sorting out its identity. Defensive line coach Nate Ollie has also taken a clear liking to what he has seen, which only adds to the sense that Hand is pushing toward a larger role as the Falcons continue their offseason work. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Penix Jr. Still Has One Major Test In Falcons QB Battle
Michael Penix Jr. is still working his way back from a partially torn ACL, but the expectation is that he will be cleared for full contact before or during Falcons training camp. Until that happens, the quarterback battle has hardly had a chance to get off the ground, with Penix unable to fully take part in the kind of work that would give Atlanta a real read on where he stands.
Tua Tagovailoa, meanwhile, has already helped himself with a strong showing in offseason work, including mandatory minicamp, where his accuracy stood out. For Penix, the challenge is simple and sizable: he has to show he can throw with enough consistency to make this a legitimate competition, especially after a career completion rate that has not yet crossed 60%. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Suddenly Face A Costly Bijan Robinson Contract Dilemma
The Falcons have already locked up Drake London and Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson is next in line as Atlanta looks to keep its young core intact. With two seasons left on his rookie deal, Robinson is not in immediate danger of hitting the market, but his extension is already shaping up as one of the more important financial decisions the franchise will make as it tries to stay ahead of a rising price at running back.
The wrinkle is that Atlanta is not negotiating in a vacuum. The Falcons are in a quiet waiting game with the Lions, who are working through their own extension talks for Jahmyr Gibbs, and both sides want to be the team that does not blink first. NFL Networks Tom Pelissero has pointed out that the club that signs its back first could end up getting the better number, while the second deal may carry the heavier cost, which is exactly why this one figures to drag on awhile. [Read more 🡒]