Atlanta Falcons add to coaching staff

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – The Atlanta Falcons have named Tim Berbenich pass game specialist/game management, K.J. Black offensive assistant, Justin Hood secondary, Lance Schulters defensive assistant, John Timu defensive assistant and Ken Zampese senior offensive assistant.

Tim Berbenich

Berbenich joins the Falcons after spending the 2023 season as a coaching analyst for the Los Angeles Rams. Prior to his time with the Rams, Berbenich spent one season with the Houston Texans where he was the team’s tight ends coach.

Under Berbenich’s guidance, Jordan Akins posted 37 receptions for 495 yards with five touchdowns and his 13.4 yards per catch led all tight ends.

Berbenich spent three seasons as an offensive quality control coach for the Raiders (2018-20) before being promoted to running backs coach in 2021. That season, Josh Jacobs tallied 872 rushing yards on 217 carries with nine touchdowns while averaging 4.0 yards per carry.

Prior to his time with the Raiders, Berbenich spent five seasons with the Indianapolis Colts working in various roles, including offensive assistant (2013-14), defensive assistant (2015) and offensive assistant/assistant quarterbacks (2016-17). Working with Andrew Luck in 2016, Berbenich helped the quarterback pass for 4,240 yards with 31 touchdowns while posting a QB rating of 96.4. The following season, Jacoby Brissett filled in for an injured Luck and threw for 3,098 yards with 13 scores and an 81.7 passer rating.

Berbenich spent six seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2006 to 2011 filling a multitude of roles. From 2009-11, he was the team’s assistant wide receivers coach. During that time, he worked with Mike Williams who finished second in AP Offensive Rookie of the Year voting after posting 65 catches, 964 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in 2010. Berbenich also spent one season (2008) as the assistant running backs coach, working with Warrick Dunn as the future Falcons limited partner rushed for 786 yards and two touchdowns in his final season in the NFL. He also spent two seasons (2006-07) as the Bucs offensive quality control coach.

Berbenich began his NFL career with the Jets spending three seasons in New York as an offensive assistant (2003-04) and offensive quality control coach (2005). He graduated from Hamilton College and he and his wife, Dianne, have two sons: Jack and Drew.

K.J. Black

Black comes to Atlanta after spending two seasons (2022-23) with the Los Angeles Rams. He served as an offensive assistant in 2023 after spending 2022 in a Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship where he worked alongside Falcons Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson.

In 2023, Black helped Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford complete 326-of-521 attempts (62.6 percent) for 3,965 yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions for a 92.5 passer rating, earning Pro Bowl honors for the second time in his career. Stafford ranked in the top 12 among quarterbacks in completions, passing yards and touchdown passes. Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua recorded the most receptions (105) and receiving yards (1,486) by a rookie in NFL history, earning second-team AP All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. Nacua also set the NFL record for most receiving yards by a rookie in a playoff game in NFL history with 181 yards against Detroit.

As a coaching fellow during the 2022 season, Black played a pivotal role in the development of younger quarterbacks John Wolford and Bryce Perkins. During an injury-riddled season, both Wolford and Perkins saw playing time and made significant improvements while working with Black. Wolford started three games in place of an injured Matthew Stafford and threw for 390 yards and one touchdown. Perkins appeared in four games, starting one, and threw for 161 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 90 yards.

Prior to joining the Rams, Black served as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Florida A&M. He joined the coaching staff at FAMU in 2019 as passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Under Black’s leadership, Rattlers quarterback Ryan Stanley threw for 2,566 yards in 2019, earning MEAC Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Black started his coaching career in 2011 at his alma mater, Prairie View A&M, where he would serve in a variety of roles including graduate assistant (2011-14), passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach (2015-17) and tight ends coach (2018).

As a player, Black played quarterback at Western Kentucky University before transferring to Prairie View A&M where he threw for 4,187 yards and 35 touchdowns over two seasons with the program. In 2009, he led the Panthers to the program’s first SWAC Championship since 1964 and earned Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Black and his wife, Erin, have one daughter, Payton Dianne.

Justin Hood

Hood comes to Atlanta after spending three seasons (2021-23) with the Green Bay Packers as a defensive quality control coach.

In 2023, Hood was instrumental in helping the Green Bay defense finish the regular season ranking ninth in passing defense (206.8), ninth in red zone defense (50.88 percent) and 10th in opponent points per game (20.6) en route to the club’s first playoff appearance since 2021.

Prior to Green Bay, Hood spent two seasons (2019-20) as the secondary coach and defensive pass game coordinator at Kent State. Under Hood’s direction in 2020, safety Dean Clark led the Golden Flashes with 28 tackles (19 solo), an interception and a forced fumble as the team played a Covid-abbreviated four-game season.

Hood spent three seasons (2016-18) coaching at the FCS level prior to joining Kent State, serving two seasons (2016-17) at Davidson College before joining Western Carolina in 2018 where he coached outside linebackers. He originally joined Davidson’s staff as a safeties coach and recruiting coordinator in 2016 before being promoted to defensive pass game coordinator in 2017. In December of 2017, Hood served as the interim head coach for the Wildcats.

Prior to his time at Davidson, Hood served as the defensive coordinator for two seasons (2014-15) at Capital University where he primarily coached the defensive backs.

Hood began his collegiate coaching career at the University of Oregon as a recruiting administrative assistant for two seasons (2010-11) before serving as an offensive intern and in quality control from 2011-12. He then worked as a graduate assistant at the University of Illinois for two seasons (2013-14), working with cornerbacks and maintaining responsibilities in scouting and film breakdown, while coaching the scout offense and special teams.

Hood gained his first NFL coaching experience as a Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellow for the New York Giants in August 2013 working with the running backs and managing the scout special teams.

The Youngstown, Ohio, native was a four-year starter (2004-07) and two-year captain at safety at Ashland University and earned second-team All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors as a senior.

Hood and his wife, Sarah, have two daughters, Luca and Rowan.

Lance Schulters

Schulters comes to Atlanta after spending two seasons (2021-22) with the Los Angeles Rams where he served as a coaching fellow in 2021 and a defensive assistant in 2022.

This marks Schulters’ third stint with Atlanta’s coaching staff, having previously served as a special teams intern from 2015-16 and a defensive assistant in 2020.

Schulters began his coaching career in 2011 when he served as defensive backs coach at Bryant University.

As a player, Schulters was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 1998 NFL Draft. Over his 10-year career, he spent time with the Tennessee Titans, Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints, and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1999. Additionally, the Hofstra University alum was named to the school’s Hall of Fame in 2013.

John Timu

Timu comes to Atlanta after spending three seasons (2021-23) with the Los Angeles Chargers where he served in a variety of roles, including assistant defensive line coach (2023), defensive assistant (2022) and as the Alex G. Spanos Coaching Fellow in 2021.

In 2023, Timu helped coach a defensive unit that finished the season with 48 sacks, tied for seventh in the NFL. Since 2000, the Chargers’ 48 sacks are the second-most sacks in a single season in franchise history (61 in 2006).

Timu joined the Chargers after spending two seasons (2019-20) as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, the University of Washington.

Before joining the coaching ranks, Timu played three NFL seasons (2015-17) for the Chicago Bears, appearing in 29 career games and making nine starts at linebacker. In a 2015 win at Tampa Bay, he had six tackles and recovered two fumbles, becoming the first Bears defender to record multiple fumble recoveries in a single game since 2012. After being waived during final roster cuts prior to the 2018 season, Timu signed with the Salt Lake Stallions of the Alliance of American Football in early 2019.

Timu was a three-year starting linebacker at Washington, earning honorable mention All-Pac-12 recognition following his senior season in 2014. That year, he led the Huskies with 108 total tackles, while

adding 10 passes defensed and two interceptions, including one he returned 63 yards for a touchdown.

A native of Long Beach, Calif., Timu and his wife, Amanda, have three sons, Asaiah, Jireh and Jaxxon.

Ken Zampese

Zampese comes to Atlanta after spending four seasons (2020-23) with the Washington Commanders.

In 2023, Zampese worked as senior offensive assistant/game management after spending the previous three seasons (2020-22) as the Commanders’ quarterbacks coach. He brings a wealth of experience to Atlanta, serving in a variety of coaching roles with several NFL teams including Washington, Cleveland (2018), Cincinnati (2003-17), St. Louis (2000-02), Green Bay (1999) and Philadelphia (1998).

In 2021, he worked with Taylor Heinicke, helping the quarterback pass for 3,419 yards with 20 touchdowns in 16 games. Under Zampese’s guidance, Heinicke had seven games with a passer rating of 90-or-better and five games with two-or-more touchdown passes. In 2020, Zampese worked with Alex Smith who posted a 5-1 record as a starter and was named the Associated Press Comeback Player of the year.

Prior to his time in Washington, Zampese split time in 2019 with the Atlanta Legends and the University of Florida after spending 2018 with the Browns. In Cleveland, he guided first-overall pick Baker Mayfield to an impressive rookie season, setting an NFL rookie record with 27 touchdown passes in just 13 games. Mayfield led all rookies in passing yards (3,725), passing touchdowns (27), completion percentage (63.79) and passer rating (93.7).

Zampese was the offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2016 when the team fielded a top-13 unit averaging 356.9 yards per game. Prior to being named the offensive coordinator, Zampese spent 13 seasons (2003-15) as the Bengals quarterbacks coach working with Jon Kitna, Carson Palmer and Andy Dalton. Under Zampese’s tutelage, Kitna was named AP Comeback Player of the Year and PFWA Most Improved Player in 2003, Palmer earned back-to-back Pro Bowl selections in 2005 and 2006 and Dalton was named to Pro Bowls in 2011, 2014 and 2016.

Zampese joined the Bengals after three seasons (2000-02) in St. Louis. In 2001, he was the club’s wide receivers coach as the Rams led the NFL in passing yards. The next season, he added passing game coordinator to his responsibilities, and the Rams finished second in the league in passing.

Zampese spent time as an offensive assistant with the Rams (2000) and Green Bay Packers (1999) after getting his NFL start as an offensive assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1998. Prior to working in the NFL, he spent eight years (1990-97) as a college coach, including two seasons (1996-97) as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator at Miami (Ohio) and four seasons (1992-95) at Northern Arizona where he was offensive coordinator in 1995 and wide receivers coach from 1992-94. Zampese began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at USC in 1990 where he spent two seasons.

As a player, Zampese was a wide receiver and kick returner at the University of San Diego from 1985-88. He was the team’s special teams player of the year as a senior. He earned an undergraduate degree in business from San Diego and later received a master’s degree in adult education from Southern California.