After four seasons as a special teams ace and occasionally electrifying receiver on offense, KhaDarel Hodge will play somewhere else in 2026. The Atlanta Falcons will release him soon, per NFL reporter Jordan Schultz.
Hodge, 31, joined Atlanta in 2022 as a less-than-heralded addition to their special
teams and quickly made himself a fan favorite. One of the most reliable performers on Marquice Williams’ units, Hodge was among the team leaders in special teams tackles every season and was a force for good in coverage, ultimately earning Pro Bowl recognition for his work in 2024. On offense, he came into his own as an occasional receiving option after coming to Atlanta with just 30 total career receptions, putting up 37 grabs for 596 yards and a pair of touchdowns in four seasons. One of those scores is one of the most fun, memorable moments we have from this deeply cursed franchise in recent years.
Hodge seemed to have fallen out of favor with the team late last year, as he was suddenly benched temporarily before the Falcons placed him on injured reserve in December. The Falcons, who have an entirely new front office and coaching staff, are moving on from Hodge and saving a little over $2.6 million in 2026 by doing so, with about $625,000 in dead money. With a million holes to fill and a roster to reimagine, it’s a logical move, albeit one that still makes me a bit sad. Hodge’s energy, playmaking verve, and consistency were welcome for a Falcons team that had too little of all three during his four years here, after all.
We wish Hodge well wherever he lands, and he shouldn’t take long to find a new home, given his track record.
