Falcons Hire New Defensive Assistant After Firing Previous Coach

Troy Kruchten joins the Falcons' coaching staff after the team let go of LaTroy Lewis.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Atlanta Falcons have hired Troy Kruchten as a defensive quality control coach, just nine days after firing their previous assistant defensive line coach, LaTroy Lewis, following an allegation of violence against a woman.

Why it matters

The Falcons are making changes to their defensive coaching staff as they look to improve their performance on that side of the ball. Kruchten's hiring suggests the team is seeking fresh perspectives and new approaches to their defense.

The details

Kruchten was most recently an assistant coach at Georgia State, where he coached outside linebackers, nickels and special teams. Prior to that, he was a graduate assistant at the University of Florida, coaching linebackers, following a college playing career as a linebacker at Southeastern Louisiana and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

  • The Falcons fired LaTroy Lewis on March 1, 2026.
  • The Falcons hired Troy Kruchten on March 9, 2026.

The players

Troy Kruchten

The Falcons' new defensive quality control coach, who previously coached at Georgia State and the University of Florida.

LaTroy Lewis

The former Falcons assistant defensive line coach who was fired following an allegation of violence against a woman.

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What’s next

The Falcons will look to Kruchten to help improve their defensive performance as they prepare for the upcoming NFL season.

The takeaway

The Falcons are making changes to their defensive coaching staff as they seek to find new approaches and perspectives to improve their team's performance on that side of the ball.