Falcons OT Kaleb McGary retires, team signs Jawaan Taylor

Atlanta Falcons lose longtime right tackle, replace him with veteran free agent

Apr. 9, 2026 at 6:09pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the abstract shapes and planes of a football offensive line, with sharp geometric forms in navy, red, and white representing the players and their movements.The Falcons' offensive line undergoes a geometric transformation as the team replaces a longtime starter with a new veteran acquisition.Atlanta Today

Atlanta Falcons starting right tackle Kaleb McGary, who missed the entire 2025 season due to a knee injury, announced his retirement on Wednesday. The Falcons have agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract with free agent right tackle Jawaan Taylor to replace McGary.

Why it matters

McGary was a longtime starter for the Falcons, playing in 92 of 93 games over his 6-year career. His retirement leaves a hole at a key offensive line position for the team. The Falcons have moved quickly to sign veteran Jawaan Taylor, who has extensive starting experience, to fill the void.

The details

McGary, 31, had signed a two-year, $30 million contract extension with the Falcons in August 2025 before suffering a season-ending knee injury in practice. He was a first-round draft pick by the team in 2019 out of the University of Washington. The Falcons have now agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal with 28-year-old Jawaan Taylor, who spent the last three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs after being drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019.

  • On Wednesday, Kaleb McGary announced his retirement through his agent.
  • On Wednesday, the Falcons agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract with Jawaan Taylor.

The players

Kaleb McGary

A 31-year-old offensive tackle who spent the last 6 seasons as a starter for the Atlanta Falcons before announcing his retirement on Wednesday.

Jawaan Taylor

A 28-year-old offensive tackle who has started 111 games over the last 4 seasons for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Kansas City Chiefs. He signed a 1-year, $5 million contract with the Falcons on Wednesday.

Matt Ryan

The former quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons, who played alongside Kaleb McGary from 2019-2022 and praised McGary's impact on the organization.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I truly enjoyed my time playing alongside Kaleb. He was an outstanding teammate and had a tremendous career as a Falcon. We are grateful for the impact he made on this organization, and we wish him nothing but the best in retirement.”

— Matt Ryan, Falcons President of Football

What’s next

The Falcons will look to integrate Jawaan Taylor into their offensive line as the new starting right tackle, with training camp and the 2026 season on the horizon.

The takeaway

The retirement of longtime Falcons offensive tackle Kaleb McGary leaves a significant hole on the team's offensive line, but the quick signing of veteran Jawaan Taylor shows the organization's commitment to addressing the position and maintaining continuity on the offensive front.