Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Falcons Justin Simmons, Matt Judon Moves Drew ‘Glowing’ Reviews Around NFL
When the Atlanta Falcons traded for star outside linebacker Matt Judon from the New England Patriots on Aug. 14, Falcons coach Raheem Morris’s phone buzzed.
There were several congratulatory texts sent his way — and for the Irvington, N.J., native, many were from fans of the New York Jets, who no longer have to play against Judon twice a year as AFC East rivals.
But when the Falcons signed star free agent safety Justin Simmons to a one-year contract the next day, Morris’s phone again lit up. This time, it was from a more diverse audience — a variety of sects across the NFL landscape.
“Two players that you get glowing recommendations from people that they played with,” Morris said Monday in Flowery Branch. “When the signing goes down, and everybody calls me excited about the people that they’ve worked with and people that worked with them before, whether it be in Denver, Baltimore, New England.”
The Falcons Podcast: Spotify | Apple Pods | iHeart
Judon made the Pro Bowl each year from 2019-22 and was on his way to another in 2023 before suffering a torn lower right bicep. Simmons, meanwhile, has earned second-team All-Pro honors in four of the past five years, starring on the back end of the Denver Broncos’ defense.
Respect for Judon and Simmons is widespread across the sport’s highest level. Morris, who has no prior experience with either player, found that out rather quickly.
And from their on-field skill level to off-field leadership, Morris has a brighter outlook on the Falcons’ 2024 season than he did a week ago.
“It’s hard to say I’m not more confident,” Morris said. “The two players, I don’t know how many Pro Bowls they’ve got amongst each other, but you’re talking about grown men adding to your organization that got real, true value.”
Morris realized why Simmons and Judon have grown as accomplished as they are during his first formal interaction with each.
Simmons visited the Falcons on Aug. 12 and 13, and he ate dinner with a group of Falcons that includes Morris, general manager Terry Fontenot, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, safety Jessie Bates III and cornerback A.J. Terrell.
They ate at Chops Lobster Bar in Atlanta — and for as much as the Falcons wanted to pitch themselves to Simmons, the 30-year-old safety already knew much of what he needed.
“He’s talking about our team and our guys and [safety] Richie [Grant] and what it means to him,” Morris said. “Like, who does that? That fires you up.”
Simmons was searching for answers on differences between the Falcons’ previous coaching staff, led by head boss Arthur Smith, and the group Morris has assembled, among several other questions. Evidently, he liked the responses.
Judon’s experience was less formal in setting, as he held a FaceTime call with Morris that was permitted by the Patriots and the NFL.
Morris’s energy stood out to Judon, while Judon’s intentionality and assertiveness had the same effect on Morris, who quickly recognized he wanted the 32-year-old on his team.
“He’s telling you exactly what he’s going to bring you from his standpoint,” Morris said. “That dog mentality — and he didn’t use dog, he used a different word — but I loved it. I’m like, ‘Yes, bring him.’”
Film and stats only tell part of the story. Morris noted he wants to add positive people — players who fit Atlanta’s ethos and conduct business in a way that best represents the organization.
Judon and Simmons checked those boxes. Their past employers confirmed it.
As for the on-field component, Morris strives to be player-driven, emphasizing doing what the players do well. He feels Simmons and Judon bring unique skill sets with clear strengths to their game.
“Justin with his ball skills, his unique ability to get the ball back. I can’t remember the exact number of interceptions he’s had, but it’s a lot over the last couple years,” Morris said about Simmons, who has 30 interceptions in eight seasons. “Then Judon, with his ability to affect the passer, and he’s really unique, because you’ve seen him in two different systems, do it two different ways.”
Judon, who played the first five years of his career with the Baltimore Ravens, entered the NFL by being used in a variety of roles. He was an edge-setter who could blitz from different spots and was moved the formation.
In New England, Judon more consistently aligned off the edge and was directly involved in the Patriots’ pass rushing groups up front, especially on third down and long situations. On third and short, Judon proved his intellect and high mental capacity, Morris said.
Unique is one word for each player. Proven, productive and potential game-changers are several others.
Morris noted the additions of Simmons and Judon created a buzz from the fanbase, which Judon said he could feel over social media. Morris said such excitement is exactly what players and coaches want, forming a mentality that has left Atlanta’s first-year coach jubilant.
But nothing excites Morris more than seeing it on the field — and with Simmons and Judon making their debuts in Monday’s practice, Morris is eager to see them play and acclimate to Atlanta’s system with Week 1 less than three weeks away.
“Two really exciting players in their own right, and I just can’t wait to get them on the grass now,” Morris said. “They’re here, they’re on the grass, we’ll get some nice evaluations this week on what they can do and what they could be, and then it’s up to us to go make it happen.”
The public is getting its first look at the two pandas that will be heading from China to Zoo Atlanta.
NBC’s Janis Mackey Frayer was able to visit female Fu Shuang and male Ping Ping before they make the nearly 8,000-mile flight. The giant pandas are both 6 years old and are headed to the United States as part of a new decade-long conservation agreement between China and the U.S.
Ping Ping’s keepers say he tends to follow them around, which is atypical behavior for a panda, but may be because of the food they have for him. Fu Shuang — which translates to “double happiness” — is playful, but nervous, and enjoys placing her chin on her paw. She also likes apples and has a penchant for finding them.
“Because we will hide pieces of apples, for example under the tree … she can find them everywhere,” panda keeper Wang Shun told Mackey Frayer, noting her “clever” behavior.
The pandas are part of an international cooperative research agreement on giant panda conservation between Zoo Atlanta and the China Wildlife Conservation Association, a renewal of panda diplomacy between America and China that began in 1972.
“Zoo Atlanta is delighted and honored to yet again be trusted as stewards of this treasured species and to partner with the China Wildlife Conservation Association on the continued conservation and research efforts that are the most important outcomes of this cooperation,” Zoo Atlanta President and CEO Raymond B. King said in a statement in April.
“We can’t wait to meet Ping Ping and Fu Shuang and to welcome our Members, guests, city, and community back to the wonder and joy of giant pandas.”
Pandas are already at zoos in Washington, D.C., and San Diego. Zoo Atlanta maintained a panda agreement with China from 1999 until 2024, when Lun Lun and Yang Yang went back to their home country, along with their two youngest cubs.
Animal behaviorist James Ayala marvels at how pandas mature.
“You see cubs and they seem so cuddly and clumsy and cute. And then they grow up into these big, majestic bears,” he told Mackey Frayer.
Fu Shuang and Ping Ping will be transported further south into a mountainous region where they will be prepped to make the trip to the U.S. It is unknown when they will leave.
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Soccer fever took over The Battery Atlanta on Thursday as fans gathered outside Truist Park for a rare chance to see the FIFA World Cup trophy in person.
Children kicked soccer balls across the plaza while crowds counted down to the dramatic reveal of the iconic trophy, widely considered the most coveted prize in international sports.
The appearance marked the first public viewing of the FIFA World Cup trophy in Atlanta.
“It’s the real trophy,” said fan Abdulrahman Dwead. “Nobody is allowed to touch the actual trophy unless you won it or are the president of FIFA. So, me standing beside that cup, that’s an honor to me.”
The trophy stop carried extra significance because Atlanta is one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Local fans said the event gave them a deeper sense of excitement ahead of the tournament.
“It’s the greatest feeling in the world,” said Melissa Richardson. “It’s something that doesn’t happen often and to be here in this moment is very important to me.”
The trophy was displayed outside the ballpark before moving inside Monument Garden during Thursday night’s Braves game, allowing ticket holders another opportunity to see the historic prize.
Organizers said the event gave thousands of fans a rare chance to experience a piece of soccer history in Atlanta.
“I’m so happy that Atlanta will host eight games,” Dwead said. “I’ve been here in Atlanta for almost 14 years and I love Atlanta so much.”
Copyright 2026 WANF. All rights reserved.
The Atlanta Dream are undefeated heading into their home opener and still finding ways to improve their roster.
The Dream announced Wednesday the signing of forward Amy Okonkwo to a developmental contract. It’s the latest roster move for an Atlanta team that is 2-0 and gearing up to play Sunday against the defending champion, Las Vegas Aces.
Okonkwo brings an impressive résumé despite her young career.
She most recently attended training camp with the Dallas Wings ahead of the 2026 season and appeared in eight games with Dallas during the 2025 WNBA season, averaging 11.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game while shooting better than 60 percent from the field. She recorded a career-high 20 points against Phoenix on Sept. 11, 2025, and made history as the first undrafted player since 2000 to average 10 or more points while shooting 60 percent or better through her first two WNBA games.
Her international résumé is equally impressive. Okonkwo has earned back-to-back FIBA Women’s AfroBasket MVP honors in 2023 and 2025 while helping Nigeria’s national team capture consecutive gold medals. Collegiately, she played at USC before finishing her career at TCU, where she earned 2018 Big 12 Sixth Player of the Year honors.
Okonkwo joins a 12-player roster that includes Naz Hillmon, Te-Hina Paopao, Jordin Canada, Angel Reese, Aaliyah Nye, Rhyne Howard, Madina Okot, Allisha Gray, Isobel Borlase, Indya Nivar, Sika Kone and Brionna Jones.
The signing caps a busy stretch of roster moves for Atlanta.
Earlier this month, the Dream claimed guard Aaliyah Nye off waivers after she was selected by the expansion Toronto Tempo in the 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft and subsequently waived on May 7. Nye brings championship pedigree to Atlanta, having been a member of the 2025 WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces as a rookie, appearing in all 44 regular season games and finishing fourth among franchise rookies in made three-pointers with 37.
A guard out of the University of Alabama, Nye is one of the sharper shooters in the league. She finished her college career with 389 three-pointers across stops at Alabama and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, shooting 40.9 percent from beyond the arc. In her final season with the Crimson Tide, she earned Second Team All-SEC honors after averaging 15.2 points per game and setting the program’s single-season record with 111 made three-pointers.
To make room for Nye, the Dream waived guard Holly Winterburn, a move that came with an emotional cost. Winterburn, a Northampton, England native who went undrafted in 2025 before signing with Atlanta as a free agent, said she learned she had been cut just before boarding the bus for the team’s first game of the season on May 9.
“I thought my welcome to the W moment would happen on the court, not as I’m getting on the bus for my first ever game,” Winterburn wrote on Instagram. “But that’s the reality of this business and I will always be grateful for the opportunity Atlanta gave me. I’m built for this.”
Winterburn did not stay without a job for long. The Portland Fire signed her to a developmental contract shortly after her release.
After Tuesday’s road win in Dallas, the Dream return home Sunday to face the defending champion Las Vegas Aces at 1:30 p.m. at State Farm Arena.
-
New York41 minutes agoQuestions Arise About Jack Schlossberg’s Readiness for Congress
-
Los Angeles, Ca47 minutes agoLos Angeles releases searchable list of worst rental properties
-
Detroit, MI1 hour agoMLB News & Moments: Mets Gain Much-Needed Momentum by Sweeping Detroit
-
San Francisco, CA1 hour agoWhere to Find Free Street Parking for Shows in San Francisco | KQED
-
Dallas, TX1 hour agoDallas Stars Forward Would Be Perfect Trade Target for NY Rangers
-
Boston, MA2 hours agoJetBlue to pull out of N.H.’s largest airport amid capacity crisis, officials announce – The Boston Globe
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoDenver area events for May 15
-
Seattle, WA2 hours agoFriday Roundtable: Free Summer Shuttles