CHARLOTTE — Every NFL offseason, the coaching carousel spins, with familiar faces moving to new cities, new names looking to make their mark, and promotions occurring at different levels.

In the NFC South, two of the four teams made major changes with some of their top guys. The Panthers are heading into their third season with the same head coach. In Atlanta, the Falcons are beginning the offseason with a new head coach and new coordinators; the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hired a new coordinator, and the Saints are holding steady.

Here is a roundup of the major coaching changes around the NFC South.

Atlanta Falcons: Staff shakeups start with GM and head coach

The Falcons released head coach Raheem Morris after the 2025 season, his second with the team, along with offensive coordinator Zac Robinson and special teams coordinator Marquice Williams. Owner Arthur Blank retained defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich and a handful of position coaches on both sides of the ball.

The club also hired former MVP and longtime Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan as the team's president of football. In the Falcons' new hierarchy, Ryan will report to Blank, while the team's general manager and head coach will report to Ryan.

"I know first-hand what a great foundation this organization has, and I'm confident we can build on that and cement a culture of accountability, tenacity, resilience, and winning," said Ryan. "Setting clear expectations for every single person who walks into Flowery Branch or puts on a Falcons uniform, reinvigorating our approach with strategic thinking, and being disciplined about finding near-term wins to set us up for long-term success – these are all priorities and principles I will bring to this role."

The search for a GM is still ongoing, with interviews underway.

Atlanta did find its next head coach, bringing in Kevin Stefanski. The two-time Associated Press coach of the year spent the past six seasons as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns. His overall record in Cleveland was 45-56. Before that, he served in a variety of roles, including offensive coordinator, with the Minnesota Vikings.

"I'm beyond thrilled to be charged with leading this iconic franchise," said Stefanski. "I am grateful to Mr. Blank and Matt Ryan for trusting me to coach this football team, and there are many talented players on our roster that I cannot wait to coach.

"We share a vision for this football team that I believe will make Falcons fans everywhere proud. We will get to work immediately, putting together a first-class coaching staff and working hard to get to know all the great people that are so important to getting us all where we want to go."

Stefanski brought his offensive coordinator from Cleveland with him to Atlanta, hiring Tommy Rees in the same role for the Falcons. Rees, the former Notre Dame quarterback, also spent time with the Fighting Irish as OC and QB coach before taking the same job at Alabama for one season. He then returned to the NFL (he spent one season as an assistant coach with the Chargers) to become a position coach with the Browns.

His one season as OC in Cleveland saw him help develop Shedeur Sanders, and the Browns averaged 16.4 points and 262.1 yards per game. Stefanski told reporters this week that Rees would call plays in Atlanta, something he did for the final seven weeks in Cleveland last season.

The Falcons also hired Craig Aukerman as special teams coordinator. He served in the same role last season with the Miami Dolphins.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Two new coordinators provide new look for Bucs

After four straight years of winning the division, the Buccaneers failed to make the playoffs in 2025. It precipitated a slew of coaching changes, including offensive coordinator (Josh Gizzard was let go after his one season) and special teams coordinator.

"These decisions are always difficult," said head coach Todd Bowles at the time. "But the disappointing end to the season required some changes to our coaching staff in order to ensure we live up to the high standards we have set here."

After Zac Robinson was let go from the Falcons, he didn't have to travel far and was able to stay within the division. The Bucs hired Robinson as their offensive coordinator, reuniting him with Baker Mayfield. In 2022, Mayfield spent a five-game stretch with the Los Angeles Rams that he has long credited for revitalizing his career. Robinson was Mayfield's passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach during that time.

Robinson told reporters on Tuesday at his introductory press conference that he's excited to work with Mayfield again, whom he calls an "ignitor" who gives you a chance to win every game you're in.

"We are excited to welcome Zac Robinson as our next offensive coordinator," said Bowles. "Zac is one of the bright offensive minds in our game, and during the interview process, I was very impressed with his plan for getting the most out of the talent we have on that side of the ball.

"He has a very good understanding of the strengths of our top offensive players from his time in the division the past two years, and I am very confident in his ability to teach and develop our young players."

One of the first things Robinson will be figuring out is whether his Bucs offense will feature Mike Evans. The longtime receiver is set to enter free agency if Tampa Bay doesn't resign him.

"I've got a ton of respect for Mike and his game," Robinson told reporters. "Got to work through a lot of things, but would obviously love an opportunity to work with Mike."

Tampa Bay also brought in longtime special teams coordinator Danny Smith. This will be Smith's 30th season coaching special teams in the NFL. He spent the last 13 seasons leading the Steelers' unit. Smith's units in Pittsburgh ranked eighth in covering kickoffs (25.2 yards per return), sixth in covering punts (7.0), and fifth in average opponent drive start after kickoffs (29.0) in 2025.

"Danny is one of the most respected and highly regarded special teams coaches in our league," said Bowles. "He is an extraordinary teacher and has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to all areas of special teams. I am confident that he will get the most out of our players and take our special teams unit to the next level."

New Orleans Saints: No changes in coaching staff

The Saints won four of their last five games, giving Kellen Moore a 6-11 record in his first year as a head coach. Having seemingly found their coach and quarterback of the future (Tyler Shough), the Saints are remaining pat with their staff, and there is no major coaching turnover in New Orleans. The Saints changed quarterbacks halfway through the season, benching Spencer Rattler and starting Shough. It was how Moore handled that situation and found subsequent success that inspired the Saints brass.

"We hired Kellen under a set of circumstances relative to the quarterback, and then that changed dramatically," Saints executive vice president/general manager Mickey Loomis said after the season. "And, man, he didn't bat an eye. He just — OK, what's the next step that we have to do, and how do we attack it? That was impressive right from the beginning.

"And then during the course of the season, there's circumstances and things that come up during the course of the year that you can think you're prepared for, but you're really not because you haven't been put in that position. And I think in virtually every case, he handled it really well. That's been exciting to see."

Shough was named an AP offensive rookie of the year finalist. He'll face off against Panthers receiver Tetairoa McMillan, and the winner will be announced next Thursday at NFL Honors.

The Saints' biggest questions this offseason will deal with some of their long-term pillars, such as Cam Jordan, Demario Davis, and Taysom Hill. All are facing free agency, among others.

"There's a process that we go through at the end of the season," Loomis said. "It's an evaluation, and then it's a determination of do they want to come back, do we want them back, and then even with that, there are a lot of variables. 'What's the contract situation? What's the timeline?'

"There's just too many variables for me to give you a definitive answer on any of that. But I'm excited to hear when those guys declare that they want to be back here, and I would say on the surface we definitely want to have them back, but there's just so many other variables that exist that I can't really answer that question right now."