For the third time in January, the Atlanta Falcons held a press conference to address changes within the organization. On Tuesday, Kevin Stefanski was introduced as the team’s new head coach.
“With Kevin, we land a head coach who’s accomplished a lot, a two-time NFL coach of the year,” said Matt Ryan, who was recently named president of football for the Falcons. “We also get someone who’s hungry, highly motivated, resilient, with a lot to prove. We’re so excited to welcome Kevin Stefanski as the Atlanta Falcons’ head coach.”
Stefanski becomes the 20th head coach in franchise history. He arrives after six seasons leading the Cleveland Browns, where he took the team to two playoff appearances and earned The Associated Press Coach of the Year award both times. Stefanski has worked in coaching roles since 2006.
“Atlanta is where I wanted to be. I wanted to be here. There was a pull to this job and pull to this city,” Stefanski said during his introduction.
The Falcons finished last season with an 8-9 record and missed the playoffs for an eighth straight year. Owner Arthur Blank responded by restructuring parts of the organization.
One key decision announced at the press conference was that offensive coordinator Tommy Rees will call plays for Atlanta’s offense next season. Rees previously worked under Stefanski with both Cleveland and as offensive coordinator at Alabama and Notre Dame.
“That’s a setup that I’m very, very comfortable with,” Stefanski said about Rees calling plays. “I think he’s an outstanding football coach. He’s young, but I don’t know if you always measure experience just in years. I think he’s had unbelievable experiences in his young career. He’s somebody that I trust. We see the game similarly, but we also push each other because we’re different.”
Ryan acknowledged Rees’ lack of NFL play-calling experience but expressed confidence in his abilities based on past performance at major college programs.
On defense, Jeff Ulbrich will remain as defensive coordinator after returning last offseason and helping improve Atlanta’s sack total from near bottom of the league in 2024 to second overall in 2025—a franchise record 57 sacks.
“There was a very easy conversation with coach and I about how we saw this game of football and how demanding we are of our players,” Stefanski said about Ulbrich. “Then, just watching the tape and some of the things he was able to do this season with some of our young players, it was really exciting. So, early on, it was obvious to me — and I think it was obvious to him — we really hit it off and are cut from the same cloth, if you will, from a football perspective.”
Quarterback remains an open question heading into next season due to Michael Penix Jr.’s knee injury recovery timeline being uncertain and Kirk Cousins’ contract situation unresolved.
“Obviously, Michael is someone I’m very excited about,” Stefanski said regarding Penix Jr.’s rehabilitation process following ACL surgery. “His rehab is what’s most important right now. I saw him in the training room this week. He’s, as you can imagine, attacking his rehab.”
Stefanski added about Cousins: “Then, when it comes to Kirk, I obviously have a previous relationship with Kirk. But I don’t know if it’s the time yet to talk about all positions and those types of things. Those types of conversations will come in due time.”
As for roster evaluation overall—particularly pending free agents like tight end Kyle Pitts Sr.—Stefanski indicated those discussions would take place once a general manager is hired: “Kyle is somebody that we’ll talk at length more about when it comes to those types of roster conversations… But if you look up and down the roster there are players that I’m excited to coach and get the best version of.”
He noted: “There are no perfect rosters in the NFL… So certainly we’ll go through player acquisition period and there will be some new faces.”
The search for general manager continues; six candidates have been interviewed so far according to Ryan: James Liipfert, Andy Weidl, Ian Cunningham, Josh Williams, Mike Bradway and Joe Douglas.
“I think it made most sense for us to kind of compartmentalize the two,” Ryan explained regarding hiring timelines for head coach versus general manager roles. “I feel like we’re in a really good space in terms of where we’re at in GM search… We’ve got some in-person interviews coming up in near future.”
The earliest deadline relevant for hiring is Feb. 17 (franchise/transition tag designation), while NFL Combine runs Feb. 23-March 2.
Additional notes included Stefanski’s desire to work closely with Ryan (“That’s a big part of why I wanted to come here —to work with Matt.”) and praise for running back Bijan Robinson (“He’s good… He’s a special person I’d start there.”). When reminded Atlanta has not reached playoffs since 2017—despite advancing twice before (1998 and 2016)—Stefanski responded: “I’m not so concerned about past when I take this job…I am forward looking…for 2026 and beyond.” The Falcons play their home games in Atlanta as part of the NFC South Division since joining as an expansion franchise in 1965.
Stefanski also commented on rivalries: “I know full well how important that rivalry is with us and Saints…You can be friends with them for 363 days…For those other two days you’re competing like crazy.”
The team continues its general manager search; updates are available via official channels.
