Falcons hire former Ole Miss defensive coordinator as assistant

The Atlanta Falcons hired Patrick Toney as their new defensive pass-game coordinator on Friday afternoon. Toney served as the Arizona Cardinals defensive backs coach for three seasons (2023-2025) and briefly took over as the Ole Miss defensive coordinator for the 2026 Fiesta Bowl.

Prior to his time in Arizona, Toney spent one year as the co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach at Florida in 2022. Toney replaces former Falcons defensive pass-game coordinator Mike Rutenberg, who just took a job as the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns.

Hiring Toney wasn't the only move made by Atlanta's coaching staff on Friday. The team fired assistant defensive line coach LaTroy Lewis just two weeks after bringing him onto the staff. Lewis was accused of sexual assault and quickly dismissed by the Falcons after the news broke.

"The Atlanta Falcons have dismissed assistant defensive line coach LaTroy Lewis from his role," the team wrote in a brief statement.

The Falcons will need to find a new assistant defensive line coach to work under defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich this season. However, the team is busy over the next few days at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.

This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons hire Ole Miss DC Patrick Toney as assistant