Atlanta Falcons Fire Assistant DL Coach LaTroy Lewis

Lewis was accused of rape and violent behavior during his time as an assistant coach at Michigan.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The Atlanta Falcons have fired assistant defensive line coach LaTroy Lewis after reports surfaced of allegations of rape and violent behavior against Lewis during his time as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan from 2023-2024. Screenshots showed explicit messages sent to the alleged female victim, and Lewis reportedly threatened to 'f-- up' and kill the woman. The Falcons acted quickly to dismiss Lewis, who had just been hired in February 2026.

Why it matters

The allegations against Lewis raise serious concerns about player and staff conduct, as well as the handling of such incidents by college and professional football programs. This case highlights the need for thorough vetting and accountability measures to prevent such alleged behavior from occurring.

The details

According to reports, journalist Justin Spiro revealed details of Lewis' alleged violent behavior and shared screenshots of explicit electronic communication between Lewis and the alleged female victim. The incidents reportedly took place when Lewis was an assistant coach at Michigan from 2023-2024. The Falcons initially stated they were gathering information, but then quickly dismissed Lewis from his new role with the team.

  • Lewis was an assistant coach at Michigan from 2023-2024.
  • Lewis was hired by the Atlanta Falcons on February 10, 2026.
  • Lewis was fired by the Falcons on February 28, 2026.

The players

LaTroy Lewis

A 32-year-old former NFL linebacker who was recently hired as an assistant defensive line coach for the Atlanta Falcons, but was fired after allegations of rape and violent behavior during his time as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan.

Sherrone Moore

The former head coach at the University of Michigan, who was allegedly informed of the victim's accusations against Lewis, harassed her in a text message, and gave Lewis a raise before providing a positive recommendation for him to be hired at Toledo.

Kevin Stefanski

The new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, who hired LaTroy Lewis as an assistant coach just weeks before he was fired.

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What they’re saying

“We are aware of allegations regarding LaTroy Lewis. We are in the process of gathering information and will have no further comment at this time.”

— Atlanta Falcons, Team Statement (statenews.net)

What’s next

The Falcons have not indicated if they will pursue any further action regarding the allegations against Lewis. The University of Michigan and its former coach Sherrone Moore may also face scrutiny over their handling of the reported incident.

The takeaway

This case highlights the urgent need for professional and college sports programs to have robust policies and procedures in place to thoroughly vet coaching hires, promptly investigate allegations of misconduct, and hold all staff accountable for unethical or criminal behavior.