Atlanta Falcons Hire New Director of College Scouting

Shawn Heinlen joins the Falcons' staff after previous roles with the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Atlanta Falcons have hired Shawn Heinlen as their new director of college scouting. Heinlen brings 27 years of NFL experience, including the last four seasons with the Cleveland Browns and previous time with the Philadelphia Eagles when their current general manager, Ian Cunningham, was there.

Why it matters

The Falcons are looking to rebuild through the draft after a disappointing season, and Heinlen's extensive scouting experience will be crucial as the team evaluates prospects ahead of the upcoming NFL Draft.

The details

Heinlen has worked in the NFL since 1999, starting as a training camp intern with the Buffalo Bills. He spent 16 years with the Bills, working his way up to a college area scout. Heinlen then had two seasons with the Reese's Senior Bowl before joining the Eagles for four years, overlapping with Cunningham. For the past four years, Heinlen has been an area scout with the Browns.

  • Heinlen was hired by the Falcons on February 18, 2026.
  • The NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis is set to kick off next week.

The players

Shawn Heinlen

Heinlen has been hired as the new director of college scouting for the Atlanta Falcons, bringing 27 years of NFL experience to the role.

Ian Cunningham

Cunningham is the current general manager of the Atlanta Falcons, and previously worked with Heinlen during their time with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I love picks, man, so you use those as currency. Either you can use it as trading up, or you can trade for players, proven players. It allows you more swings at the plate. So, there are different ways you can use them. But that's why we value them. That's why we will value them. We only have five right now, but we only had five in Chicago my first year there, too, [and] I think we ended up with 10. We love those picks, and we're going to build through the draft that way.”

— Ian Cunningham, General Manager, Atlanta Falcons (si.com)

What’s next

The Falcons and their scouting department will now shift their focus to evaluating prospects ahead of the upcoming NFL Draft, where they currently hold just five selections.

The takeaway

The addition of Shawn Heinlen as the Falcons' new director of college scouting is a key move as the team looks to rebuild through the draft. Heinlen's extensive experience and his previous work with GM Ian Cunningham should provide valuable insight as the Falcons navigate the upcoming draft process.