After missing out on one former NFL Coach of the Year, the Atlanta Falcons moved quickly to secure another.
The team on Saturday announced the hiring of Kevin Stefanski, tapping him to take over as the franchise’s new head coach.
‘I’m beyond thrilled to be charged with leading this iconic franchise,’ Stefanski said in a statemen. ‘I am grateful to Mr. Blank and Matt Ryan for trusting me to coach this football team and there are many talented players on our roster that I cannot wait to coach. We share a vision for this football team that I believe will make Falcons fans everywhere proud. We will get to work immediately putting together a first-class coaching staff and working hard to get to know all the great people that are so important to getting us all where we want to go.’
Stefanski’s hire comes in the wake of the New York Giants partnering with John Harbaugh, who finalized a deal with the team on Saturday. Harbaugh had spoken with the Falcons on Monday. But an in-person meeting never took place before the Giants entered into negotiations with the former Baltimore Ravens coach.
Instead, Stefanski, the two-time NFL Coach of the Year who was fired by the Cleveland Browns on Jan. 5, takes over for a franchise that owns the second-longest active playoff drought at eight seasons.
Atlanta’s coaching hire marks the latest step to set up a new leadership structure as part of an offseason overhaul. After an 8-9 season, the Falcons fired both coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot. The organization later installed Matt Ryan, the franchise’s all-time passing leader who spent 14 years with the team, as president of football. Stefanski will report to Ryan, who will oversee all football operations but also hire a general manager.
‘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. ‘Coach Stefanski is a team-first leader who puts a premium on accountability for everyone and a player-driven culture. 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.’
In Atlanta, Stefanski will be tasked with turning around an organization that has not registered a winning record since 2017. The Falcons won their final four games of the season under Morris to force a three-way tie atop the NFC South, but Blank still opted for a fresh start.
Stefanski takes over the reins to an offense that ranked just 24th in scoring despite All-Pro running back Bijan Robinson logging a league-high 2,298 yards from scrimmage. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament – his third such injury in his career – after largely struggling throughout his first season as a full-time starter, completing just 60.1% of his passes.
Backup Kirk Cousins flourished when Stefanski was his offensive coordinator on the Minnesota Vikings, but the veteran could be released this offseason.
The Falcons also interviewed Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, former Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, former Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce, Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde and Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver.