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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

Tom Ley

FLOWERY BRANCH, GEORGIA - MAY 27: Michael Penix Jr. #9 of the Atlanta Falcons runs through drills alongside Tua Tagovailoa #1 as head coach Kevin Stefanski looks on during OTA’s at IBM Performance Field on May 27, 2026 in Flowery Branch, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Michael Penix Jr.; Tua Tagovailoa; Kevin Stefanski

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2026: Atlanta Falcons

Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

Diana Moskovitz

ames Pearce Jr. #27 of the Atlanta Falcons walks toward the locker room at halftime of a NFL game between the Atlanta Falcons and the San Francisco 49ers on October 19, 2025 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA.

Rickea Jackson Told Court James Pearce Jr. “Will Kill Me”

James Pearce Jr. attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors at Palace Of Fine Arts on February 05, 2026 in San Francisco, California.

James Pearce Jr. Arrested, Charged With Aggravated Battery, Stalking

Samer Kalaf

Matt Ryan Ate Dinner And Did All His Homework, So He Gets To Be President Of Football

Ray Ratto

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 04: Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on the sidelines during the week 18 NFL game between the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints on Sunday January 4, 2026 at the Mercedes-Banz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Falcons Couldn’t Even Wait For Black Monday

Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including Point B. Handsomest man in the world.

Drew Magary

Safety Jeremy Chinn #11 of the Washington Commanders deflects a pass intended for tight end Kyle Pitts #8 of the Atlanta Falcons during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, at Northwest Stadium on December 29, 2024 in Landover, Maryland.

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Atlanta Falcons

NFL coach Jeff Ulbrich jogging out of the tunnel.

Jeff Ulbrich’s Dreadful Son Was Behind The Shedeur Sanders Prank Call

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Kirk Cousins #18 of the Atlanta Falcons warms up prior to the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on December 16, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Falcons Choose Buyer’s Remorse Over Kirk Cousins

Kirk Cousins ns celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Kirk Cousins Had The Kirk Cousins Of Football Games On Thursday Night

Head coach Nick Sirianni of the Philadelphia Eagles walks off the field against the Atlanta Falcons at the end of the first half in the game at Lincoln Financial Field on September 16, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Nick Sirianni Put Himself On The List

FLOWERY BRANCH, GEORGIA - MAY 14: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #18 of the Atlanta Falcons speaks to the media during OTA offseason workouts at the Atlanta Falcons training facility on May 14, 2024 in Flowery Branch, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Why Your Team Sucks 2024: Atlanta Falcons

Quarterback Kirk Cousins #18 of the Atlanta Falcons reacts to the supporter section after hitting the Golden Spike prior to the Atlanta United facing the FC Cincinnati at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on April 20, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.

It Usually Takes A Little Longer Than This To Realize You Don’t Want Kirk Cousins

Kirk Cousins speaks on SiriusXM at Super Bowl LVIII on February 09, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)

KirkWatch: I AM FREE

Atlanta head coach Arthur Smith reacts following the conclusion of the NFL game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Atlanta Falcons on December 24th, 2023 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA.

Arthur Smith Left His Job Red And Mad

Atlanta Falcons head coach looking kind of furtive and weird on the sidelines during his team's loss to the Miami Dolphins in 2021.

Arthur Smith Fails To Adequately Use Bijan Robinson, Own Brain

Atlanta Falcons' Desmond Ridder during the NFL International match at Wembley Stadium, London. Picture date: Sunday October 1, 2023. (Photo by Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images)

Hey, Guess Who Sucks? It’s Desmond Ridder!

Kelsey McKinney

Jordan Love Loses To Not The Bears And It Remains Unclear If He Is Good

Desmond Ridder #4 of the Atlanta Falcons carries the ball against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half of the game at M&amp;T Bank Stadium on December 24, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Why Your Team Sucks 2023: Atlanta Falcons

Luis Paez-Pumar

Atlanta Falcons running back Cordarrelle Patterson (84) runs back a kickoff for a touchdown during the Sunday afternoon NFL game between the Chicago Bears and the Atlanta Falcons on November 20, 2022 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

Cordarrelle Patterson Is The Kick-Return King

Justin Ellis

Can Anyone Escape The Chaos Pit That Is The NFC South?

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

Touchdown Tom Has Done It Again

Why Your Team Sucks 2022: Atlanta Falcons

Kalyn Kahler

Kurt Benkert Reveals The Key To A Good QB Kneel

Barry Petchesky

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 24: Calvin Ridley #18 of the Atlanta Falcons takes the field before the game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)