The Atlanta Falcons dropped their 2025-26 NFL season schedule on Wednesday evening, May 14, 2025, with a Mario Kart-themed video that’s got everyone talking—not just for the games, but for a cheeky dig at Bill Belichick and his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson. The video features animated Falcons players like Bijan Robinson racing past opponents, but at the 1:12 mark, it takes a detour to a beach scene where caricatures of Belichick and Hudson sit under a sign reading, “We’re not talking about this.” It’s a direct nod to Hudson’s awkward shutdown of a CBS interview question about their relationship, a moment that’s been a lightning rod since Belichick took the head coaching job at North Carolina. The jab stings extra for Falcons fans—Belichick’s Patriots famously overcame a 28-3 deficit to beat Atlanta in Super Bowl LI, and he was a candidate for their head coaching job last year before they chose Raheem Morris.
The schedule itself, already shared in detail, kicks off with a home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 7 at 1:00 PM ET on FOX, one of five primetime matchups for Atlanta this year. They’ll face tough out-of-division opponents like the Buffalo Bills (October 13, 7:15 PM ET on ESPN), Minnesota Vikings (September 14, 8:20 PM ET on NBC), and Los Angeles Rams (December 29, 8:15 PM ET on ESPN), all at night, testing their mettle under the national spotlight. The Falcons also have a unique international game against the Indianapolis Colts in Berlin on November 9 at 9:30 AM ET on NFL Network, adding a global twist to their season.
This year is a big one for Atlanta as they aim to end a seven-year playoff drought, last appearing in 2017. After an 8-9 finish in 2024—despite high hopes with Kirk Cousins—the team benched him late in the season for rookie Michael Penix Jr., who’s now set to take the reins as the starter. Cousins remains on the roster with a $40 million price tag, creating a tricky situation for the Falcons to navigate. On the defensive side, they addressed their biggest need by drafting two edge rushers in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, hoping to shore up a unit that struggled last year. With a revamped defense and Penix Jr. at the helm, Atlanta’s looking to make a statement, but their schedule—featuring playoff-caliber teams and a demanding early stretch against the Bucs, Vikings, and Commanders—won’t make it easy. Can the Falcons finally break through in 2025? The road starts in September, and it’s going to be a wild ride.
