Atlanta Braves Manager Brian Snitker Transitioning To a New Role For 2026
Well, folks, all good things must come to an end. Even the remarkably successful, often stoic, and always mustachioed tenure of Brian Snitker as the manager of the Atlanta Braves. After a decade at the helm that saw the highest of highs and a few gut-punching lows, Snitker is hanging up his manager’s uniform, transitioning into an advisory role with the club he’s been a part of since, well, forever.
The Braves announced Wednesday that the man who brought a World Series trophy back to Atlanta in 2021 will not be in the dugout come 2026. This decision comes on the heels of a season that can only be described as a bizarre hangover after a seven-year party. The Braves, after a staggering six straight NL East titles, stumbled to a 76-86 record, missing the postseason for the first time since 2017. It was a season so un-Braves-like, you had to check the calendar to make sure it wasn’t a prank.
The End Of An Era For Brian Snitker
Brian Snitker will not return as Braves manager in 2026. pic.twitter.com/sMN2QcSJoz
— MLB (@MLB) October 1, 2025
Let’s be real: Snitker is more Atlanta than Waffle House and sweet tea. The man has been with the organization since 1977, serving in nearly every capacity imaginable. He was a player, a minor league coach, a big-league coach, and finally, the top dog. He took over for Fredi Gonzalez on an interim basis back in 2016 when the team was, to put it kindly, a hot mess. He then steered the ship not just to stability, but to the pinnacle of the sport.
He led the team to six consecutive division crowns and that glorious 2021 World Series title, the franchise’s first since 1995. It was a run of dominance that made the Braves the envy of baseball. But this year, the magic just wasn’t there. The bats went quiet, the pitches didn’t land, and for the first time in a long time, October baseball will happen without the Tomahawk Chop echoing through Truist Park.
Why Is Snitker Stepping Down Now?
Sources told ESPN that Snitker, whose contract was up after this season, informed the team of his decision on Tuesday. At 69, a birthday he’ll celebrate in a couple of weeks, you can’t blame a guy for wanting to step back from the daily grind of managing a Major League Baseball team.
“I’ve teetered on the fence [about retirement],” Snitker said after the team’s final game. “I’ve never been through this before. I wasn’t sure how to navigate it.” It is a surprisingly human moment from a guy who often looks like he was carved from granite. Even after a disappointing season, he saw a silver lining, pointing to a 10-game winning streak in September as a sign of fight. But ultimately, it seems the “what’s next?” question was louder than the “what if?”
What’s Next For the Atlanta Braves?
With Snitker moving to an advisory role (and a well-deserved induction into the team’s Hall of Fame), the Braves join a growing list of teams with a “Help Wanted” sign on the manager’s office door. But let’s be honest, the Atlanta job is the prime piece of real estate on the market. Despite this year’s blip, this is a team loaded with young, controllable talent. It’s a turnkey operation for a new skipper.
General Manager Alex Anthopoulos had previously said Snitker will be a “Brave for life,” and this new role ensures that. But now, Anthopoulos has the unenviable task of replacing a legend. Who will be the next person to fill Snitker’s shoes? The rumor mill is already churning.
One thing is certain: the next manager has a tough act to follow. Brian Snitker wasn’t just a manager; he was the steady, calming presence that defined a golden age of Braves baseball. He was a winner, a leader, and a Brave through and through. Thanks for the memories, Snit.
