Falcons hire Stefanski as head coach
The Atlanta Falcons hired Kevin Stefanski as head coach, the team announced Saturday.
He signed a five-year contract, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Stefanski will report to Falcons legend and the team's new president of football, Matt Ryan.
"We're thrilled to land a lead-by-example leader in Kevin Stefanski, who brings a clear vision for his staff, our team, and a closely aligned focus on building this team on fundamentals, toughness, and active collaboration with every area of the football operation," Ryan said in a statement.
Ryan added: "His experience in Cleveland and Minnesota has given him a great understanding of the importance of working in sync with scouting, personnel, and the rest of the football staff to maximize talent across the roster and in doing everything possible to put our players in the best position to succeed. Kevin's style of leadership, combined with the staff and infrastructure in place here in Atlanta, gives us confidence in our shared vision for the team."
Stefanski, 43, spent the past six seasons with the Cleveland Browns, who parted ways with him after collecting just eight wins in the past two years combined.
He was one of the top candidates available. The two-time Coach of the Year, who gained the NFL's attention after a successful stint as the Minnesota Vikings' offensive coordinator in 2019, owns a 45-56 regular-season record as a head coach. Under Stefanski's watch, the Browns had two 11-win campaigns and snapped a 17-year playoff drought.
Other teams also showed interest in Stefanski, including the Tennessee Titans, who were expected to interview him for a second time.
Stefanski now replaces Raheem Morris, who lost his job after the Falcons missed the playoffs with an 8-9 record. Atlanta hasn't had a winning season since 2017 and also fired general manager Terry Fontenot at the end of the campaign.
The Falcons haven't been able to win consistently despite investing heavily in offensive talent in the draft. From 2021-24, Atlanta used top-10 picks on tight end Kyle Pitts, receiver Drake London, running back Bijan Robinson, and quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
Penix's availability for the 2026 season is uncertain after he suffered a partially torn ACL in November. The Falcons finished the 2025 campaign with Kirk Cousins at QB, but it's unclear if Atlanta will keep the veteran passer on the roster due to his contract situation. Cousins was solid while working with Stefanski on the Vikings in 2019.
Stefanski will face both of his former teams in 2026, as the Browns and Vikings are scheduled to host the Falcons next season.