The Atlanta Falcons are heading into a big year in 2025. The decision to sign Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract turned out to be costly as the Falcons will likely trade or release the veteran after 14 games as a starter last season. The blow was mitigated by Atlanta’s controversial decision to draft Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in last year’s draft.
While general manager Terry Fontenot’s foresight may have saved his job, it puts a lot of pressure on the young quarterback. The Falcons haven’t been to the playoffs since 2017 and with limited cap resources, it could be difficult to build a roster around Penix even as he’s on his rookie scale deal.
That means a lot of the help will have to come from within and the Falcons took the first step in that process on Thursday.
Falcons Promote T.J. Yates, D.J. Williams on Coaching Staff
The Falcons announced on Thursday that they have promoted T.J. Yates and D.J. Williams on their coaching staff ahead of the 2025 season. Yates was elevated from quarterbacks coach to passing game coordinator while Williams, who was an offensive assistant and assistant quarterbacks coach, has been promoted to the lead quarterbacks coach under Zac Robinson.
Yates is a former NFL quarterback who began his career as a fifth-round pick with the Houston Texans in 2011. The North Carolina product bounced around with the Texans, the Falcons, Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills over seven seasons before retiring and becoming an offensive assistant on Houston’s staff in 2019.
The 37-year-old worked his way up to assistant quarterbacks coach before coming to Atlanta in 2021 and has served as a passing game specialist, wide receivers coach (2022-23) and quarterbacks coach during his four seasons with the Falcons.
Williams also has a strong resume beginning with his collegiate career at Grambling State University. The son of Washington Commanders legend Doug Williams, he began his coaching career as an offensive assistant with the New Orleans Saints from 2019 to 2023 before joining Raheem Morris’s staff last season.
Together, they’ll look to help Penix become the franchise quarterback that Cousins couldn’t. Penix assumed the starting job after Cousins was benched for poor performance in December, completing 58.1% of his passes for 775 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions in five games (three starts) in his rookie year and will now have the lead job as the Falcons look to take a step forward in 2025.