Atlanta Falcons hired Kevin Stefanski as their next head coach, the team announced Saturday night, nearly two weeks after the Cleveland Browns dismissed him following the end of the regular season.
Stefanski, 43, arrives in Atlanta after coaching the Browns from 2020 through 2025. He compiled a 45–56 record over five seasons in Cleveland and guided the club to two playoff appearances, including a 2020 run that produced the franchise’s first postseason victory in 26 years. He was fired nearly two weeks earlier, ending a tenure that opened with promise but stalled amid injuries and persistent quarterback instability.
The Falcons fired head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot in January 2026 after back-to-back 8-9 seasons and no playoff berths. Atlanta has posted three straight losing seasons since its last winning year in 2021 and is undergoing a broader reset as it restructures football operations.
In Cleveland, Stefanski earned NFL Coach of the Year honors twice — first in 2020 after an 11-5 season and a wild-card win over Pittsburgh, and again in 2023 after guiding an injury-depleted Browns roster to the postseason. But the team struggled to sustain consistency around its quarterbacks, cycling through Baker Mayfield, Deshaun Watson and multiple backups as injuries and expectations mounted.
Falcons ownership cited Stefanski’s offensive background and quarterback development as central to the hire. Atlanta enters the offseason with its own quarterback questions after Taylor Heinicke and Desmond Ridder split time in 2023, and with a new front office expected to help shape personnel decisions.
Stefanski is signing a five-year contract with Atlanta. Financial terms were not disclosed. He is expected to be introduced later this week.
