It was a morning Atlanta fans won’t soon forget. The news broke early — Brian Snitker, who has practically become the face of Braves baseball over the last decade, won’t be coming back to the dugout in 2026. Instead, he’s moving into a senior advisory role, handing off his managerial duties after nearly 50 years with the organization. The announcement didn’t just close a chapter; it cracked open a new, unexpected one: Atlanta’s about to launch a major search for its next skipper.
For anyone who’s followed the Braves even a little, Snitker’s journey is the stuff of baseball legend. He started out with the Braves back in 1977. Not as a big prospect or a hyped rookie — he was just an undrafted minor league catcher. The years that followed saw him managing on back fields and long bus rides, soaking in everything he could. He’s been through it all — minor league stops, coaching with the big club, and learning from none other than — his former colleague — Bobby Cox. When the Braves handed Snitker the keys in 2016, after a truly dreadful 9-28 start under Fredi González, it almost felt like a caretaker move. But he seized the moment and made the job his own.
You can talk numbers with Snitker all day — his 811 wins, that .548 winning percentage, all the playoff runs. But the numbers don’t capture everything. In 2021, the Braves limped into the playoffs, missing Ronald Acuña Jr. and basically patched together by Snitker’s instincts and grit. Not many thought they’d even make it out of the first round, let alone topple the Astros and bring home Atlanta’s first World Series in more than 25 years. That championship was pure Snitker: steady-handed, people-focused, and never too high or too low, no matter the pressure.
The decision to step aside wasn’t some knee-jerk reaction to one rough year. The 2025 season stung — the Braves were hammered by injuries almost from Day One. At one point, every pitcher from the original rotation was sidelined. Regulars like Acuña, Riley, and Albies were in and out of the lineup. The team ended up using 19 different starting pitchers, and the offense just couldn’t keep up with all the absences. The sub-.500 record, the missed playoffs — it didn’t sit well with anybody. But through it all, Snitker kept the clubhouse together. Even as the season fizzled, the team finished the season winning seven of their last 10 games. The guys clearly didn’t quit on him.
Even so, Snitker took his time with this call. He leaned on his family and sought advice from people close to him, including Pam Cox, Bobby’s wife. If you know Braves lore, you know what Bobby has meant to this franchise — Snitker included. There was a story Snitker shared about Pam telling him Bobby ended up loving his own advisory role, once he got used to the idea of not managing every inning. That clearly weighed on Snitker as he made up his mind.
President of Baseball Operations Alex Anthopoulos, for his part, never tried to rush the process. He kept saying this was Snitker’s decision, and the front office wouldn’t even float potential replacements while he was still deciding. That respect says a lot about how the Braves operate — and about the mark Snitker has left on them.
Now comes the wild part: Atlanta’s jumping into the managerial market just as a record number of other teams are searching for someone new. This isn’t usually the Braves’ style — they’re known for stability, with just four managers since 1990. That makes the sudden opening even more intriguing to baseball insiders, who see Atlanta’s job as easily one of the most desirable gigs out there. Despite the rough season, the roster’s stocked (Acuña, Olson, and Riley are back), the farm system’s healthy, and the expectation is a quick bounce-back to contention.
In terms of who’s next, the conversation starts right in-house. Walt Weiss, the bench coach who’s been by Snitker’s side since 2018, is getting a lot of buzz. He’s managed before, so he knows the unique demands, and he’s familiar with these players and how the organization does things. Of course, some look at his won-loss record with the Rockies and wonder if he’s more suited to being a trusted lieutenant than moving to the big chair. That’s a fair question.
Outside the organization, there are some intriguing names in play. Skip Schumaker, who led the Marlins to a playoff spot and was recognized as Manager of the Year not long ago, has been mentioned. David Ross, a favorite from his days as a Braves catcher — not to mention his Cubs run — always comes up. And Mark DeRosa, another ex-Brave with minimal managerial experience for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, could get a look too. Even Ron Washington, the wise old baseball man just let go by the Angels, still gets mentioned, though health and age are obvious concerns.
The Braves definitely have a choice to make: do they try to keep things familiar with a steady hand on the wheel by promoting from within, or shake things up and chase a new voice from the outside? Each direction has its supporters. Continuity would make the transition easier for players who’ve never known anyone but Snitker in charge, but a fresh perspective could be just what the team needs to snap back after a letdown year.
Here’s the thing, folks: Whatever Atlanta decides, the next manager won’t be coming into an easy, pressure-free situation. Expectations are sky-high. The Braves are built to win, and anything less than a playoff run will be seen as coming up short. There’s also the added factor of roster changes and a few veteran contracts looming, meaning whoever gets the job needs to navigate both personalities and transitions.
With that… While Snitker will not be filling out the lineup card anymore, but his influence isn’t going anywhere. He’ll still be around to offer advice and share the lessons he gathered over nearly half a century in Braves colors. His exit, after finally bringing home that elusive World Series title, feels more like the turning of a page than the closing of the book. For Atlanta fans, that’s both reassuring and — if we’re being honest — a little bit nerve-wracking. The baseball world will be watching closely to see which direction the Braves go next, and how the legacy of Brian Snitker continues to shape this franchise, even from the front office.
If you cannot play with them, then root for them!