Report: Eddie Goldman comes out of retirement to re-sign with Atlanta Falcons

Eddie Goldman is attempting to make a comeback in the NFL after leaving the league twice. According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Atlanta Falcons are re-signing the veteran defensive lineman ahead of offseason workouts. He will help bolster a defensive line that includes Grady Jarrett who missed half of the 2023 season due to a torn ACL.

Goldman, who spent his first seven seasons in the league with the Chicago Bears, signed with the Falcons in July 2022 but retired 13 days after signing with the team. In March of last year, Goldman, a Florida State alum, came out of retirement and returned to the Falcons. However, he was placed on the exempt/left squad before the season began and did not return.

In Goldman’s seven seasons with the Bears, he played in 81 games and recorded 171 tackles and 13 sacks. He had a strong rookie season registering 22 tackles, five tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 15 games. Goldman was released by the Bears in March 2022.

Eddie Goldman joins a new-look Falcons

Goldman will join a Falcons team that has a new look. The team has a new coaching staff led by head Raheem Morris who spent time with the team as an assistant from 2015-2020. On Tuesday, Morris spoke to the team for the first time in a fiery speech.

“I want us to be world-class in everything we do. … We’re going to identify some problems and we’re going to attack them,” Morris said, per Sports Illustrated.

“Let’s start working on our identity. Identity doesn’t come to life until you start working on this stuff. … I want this to be competitive, I want this to be tough, and I want this to be a physical football team. Let the results land where they may.”

More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2024 calendar year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially run out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will have a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 teams can enter into a legal negotiation with players who are set to become unrestricted free agents.

In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits. Following the restricted free agent deadline comes the 2024 NFL Draft, which runs from April 25-27.