After dismissing a coach following disturbing allegations earlier today, the Falcons are set to add to their staff.
CBS Sports reports that Ole Miss defensive coordinator Patrick Toney is expected to join the organization as their new pass game coordinator.
A longtime college assistant that steadily climbed the ranks from FCS, to Group of Six, to the SEC, Toney has been a mainstay at the Division one level since 2012.
Starting as a defensive analyst at Southeastern Louisiana, Toney was elevated to defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator after two seasons.
Following a year in that role at Southeastern Louisiana, he made the move to Sam Houston State for a season in 2015 before landing on Billy Napier's initial Louisiana staff in 2018. Initially hired to coach the safeties, Toney did that for two seasons before Napier elevated him to defensive coordinator in 2020, and when Napier left to become the head coach at Florida heading into the 2022 season, Toney went with him as co-defensive coordinator.
After one season in Gainesville with Napier, Toney got the opportunity to jump to the NFL, and spent the 2023-25 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals as their defensive backs coach. This past season, the Cardinals collected 10 interceptions and allowed just under 231 yards passing per game. His time with the franchise was highlighted by three straight Pro Bowl appearances for safety Budda Baker, who totaled 120 tackles this past season and was a second-team Pro-Bowl selection in 2024.
When Pete Golding was tabbed as the new Ole Miss head coach, he chose the 35-year old Toney to come in as the Rebels new defensive coordinator.
On3 shares, with Toney's move back to the NFL, Golding is expected to continue to call the defense for the Rebels just as he's done the past three seasons.
In Atlanta, he joins the staff of new head coach Kevin Stefanski whose first order of business upon landing the opportunity in Atlanta after being dismissed as the Cleveland Browns head coach was to retain defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. Other key changes on the defensive staff for the Falcons include Ricky Manning Jr (assistant DBs / nickels), as well as the promotion of John Timu to outside linebackers coach, and the retention of Barrett Rudd (ILBs), and Dave Huxtable (senior defensive assistant).
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.