Falcons special teams coordinator Marquice Williams will coach Shrine Bowl East team

Marquice Williams is someone I’ve mentioned as a potential future head coach, given the way players and coaches talk about him and the work he’s done with Atlanta’s special teams. While that hasn’t happened yet with an NFL team, it’s now happened twice in three years at the Shrine Bowl.

The Atlanta Falcons special teams coordinator was Arthur Smith’s nominee to coach the East squad in 2023, where his squad took part in a game that appropriately enough featured nothing but field goals. Now he’ll get another chance to coach in the prospect showcase, once again heading up the East team.

Williams has been coaching Atlanta’s special teams since 2021, and was one of the handful of coaches retained when Raheem Morris took over in 2024. Williams has overseen the development and acquisition of players like KhaDarel Hodge, Bradley Pinion, and Liam McCullough, all core special teamers, and oversaw one of the league’s best units in 2022.

Now he’ll get a closer look at some upcoming draft prospects. In 2022, defensive lineman Ikenna Enechukwu ended up joining the team as an undrafted free agent and practice squad player after spending time with Williams, and it’s certainly possible the Falcons will land players the special teams coordinator works with. With some uncertainty around the Falcons futures of both Younghoe Koo and Bradley Pinion, it might be worth keeping an eye on some of the specialists invited to the Shrine Bowl, in particular.

Congratulations to Williams on the opportunity, and look for our coverage from the event!