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Kevin Stefanski has a new team after his exit from the Browns. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Although the Atlanta Falcons finished strong, winning their final four games of the season, a second consecutive eight-win finish wasn’t enough to save Raheem Morris’ job. So Atlanta set out to find a new head coach, and they’ve found that new leader.
The Falcons are reportedly hiring former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski as their next head coach, the team announced Saturday night.
This is the second hire of the current coaching cycle, after the New York Giants grabbed former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. Seven NFL head coaching positions remain open, including Stefanski's and Harbaugh's former AFC North homes.
Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Stefanski was set to interview with the Ravens and Tennessee Titans for a second time, but the Falcons moved in to grab him. That's the second time a Titans interview has fallen through, as the same thing happened when they were supposed to meet Harbaugh after his initial talk with the Giants.
The Browns fired Stefanski after six seasons with the team. Stefanski finished 46-58 and led the Browns to two playoff appearances and earned two Coach of the Year awards. Before becoming the Browns' head coach, he spent 14 seasons with the Vikings and was the offensive coordinator under former head coach Mike Zimmer for his last two seasons with the team.
Can the Falcons break through with Kevin Stefanski?
Stefanski takes over a team with pieces in place that feel like it's ready to break through. Atlanta hasn’t had a winning season since 2017, finishing 10-6 that year and being eliminated in the divisional round of the playoffs.
The new coaching regime in Atlanta inherits a team full of talent that will be expected to compete sooner rather than later. Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Penix had his 2025 campaign ended early due to an ACL injury.
Penix was the No. 8 overall pick in 2024, and in his second NFL season became the full-time starter for the Falcons, posting a 3-6 record. Despite the losing record, Penix played well in 2025, passing 1,982 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. With the right guidance, his 88.5 passer rating and 57.1 QBR could improve greatly.
Early in the 2025 season, it seemed like the Falcons might be turning the corner after beginning 3-2. The Falcons then went on to lose five games in a row and seven out of eight, as they plummeted to 4-9. By the time Morris’ team was able to bounce back over the last month of the season, it was too late.
Atlanta is set up to compete immediately with a much-improved defense and offense that has the potential of becoming one of the most explosive in the NFL. Playing in the NFC South is also a huge advantage as the Falcons finished the season tied record-wise with Carolina and Tampa Bay, but lost the division due to tiebreakers.
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