Justin Hood was named Atlanta Falcons secondary coach on Feb. 3, 2024.

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.

The Packers held their opponents to 20 or fewer points nine times during the 2023 regular season, tied for the 10th-most in the league. Green Bay also had three players – Rashan Gary (nine), Preston Smith (eight), Kenny Clark (7.5) – record at least seven sacks each, the team's most in a single season since 2007 (three players). With eight sacks on the season, Smith became one of 11 players in the NFL to post at least eight sacks in each of his last three seasons (2021-23). 

The 2022 season saw Hood help Green Bay finish near the top of the league in a few passing-defense categories, ranking sixth in passing yards allowed per game (197.0), sixth in interception rate percentage (3.56) and tied for fourth with 17 INTs. The Packers were also one of only four teams (Baltimore, Kansas City, New York Jets) to hold 16 opponents under 30 points during the regular season, a franchise single-season high.

In 2021, Hood assisted with a defense that ranked in the top 10 in the NFL, finishing ninth in total defense (328.2 ypg), 10th in passing defense (219.1 ypg), tied for sixth in interceptions (18) and tied for eighth in takeaways (26). The unit's 328.2 yards allowed per game were the fewest by Green Bay since 2010 (309.1 ypg), while the 26 takeaways were the most registered by the Packers since 2014 (27).

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. 

In Hood's first year with the program in 2019, cornerback Jamal Parker earned second-team All-Mid-American Conference honors after recording 10 pass breakups, fourth most in the MAC, in addition to three interceptions, tied for fifth in the MAC. Defensive back Qwuantrezz Knight led the team with 11 tackles for a loss on the season and was named the defensive MVP of Kent State's 51-41 victory over Utah State in the Tropical Smoothie Café Frisco Bowl (Dec. 20).

Hood spent three seasons (2016-18) coaching at the Football Championship Subdivision (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. In 2014, safety Jimmy Curtis earned All-Ohio Athletic Conference honorable mention after leading the team in tackles (59), passes defensed (eight), forced fumbles (four) and interceptions (three).

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 earned his bachelor's degree in marketing from Ashland and earned his master's degree in education policy and leadership from Illinois. He and his wife, Sarah, have two daughters, Luca and Rowan.