The Falcons hired Kevin Stefanski as head coach after his second interview with the team on Saturday in Atlanta.
Stefanski, 43, replaces Raheem Morris, who was let go on Jan. 4 along with general manager Terry Fontenot. Stefanski, a two-time NFL Coach of the Year with the Cleveland Browns, was the first candidate to receive a second sit-down interview with the Falcons and new team president in 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 released on Saturday night. “Coach Stefanski is a team-first leader who puts a premium on accountability for everyone and a player-driven culture.”
The Athletic reported that Stefanski has been assembling a potential coaching staff to present to the Falcons, and also noted a Philadelphia link between the candidate and Ryan.
Ryan, 40, grew up in suburban Philadelphia and attended the city’s William Penn Charter School before starring at Boston College and later becoming an NFL MVP quarterback with the Falcons. Stefanski is a Philadelphia native who played at Saint Joseph’s Prep and remained home for college at Penn.
Stefanski also reportedly was planning to have a second interview with the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, per The Athletic. He also met, per multiple reports, with the Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders and Miami Dolphins about their vacancies, as well as the New York Giants, who earlier on Saturday announced the hiring of former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.
ESPN said Stefanski has “done research” on working with current Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, whom team owner Arthur Blank reportedly wants to retain.
“In Kevin Stefanski, we have found a coach with the right vision, focus and demeanor to lead our team into the future,” Blank said in the news release. “From all our research and a wonderful visit with him tonight, I believe he is the right coach to take the talent on our roster to a new level and to work with Matt (Ryan), our new GM and all our football personnel to build on the strong foundation in place and take it to new heights.
Stefanski was dismissed by Cleveland following the 2025 regular season, ending a six-year stint with the team. The Browns were just 8-26 over the past two campaigns and Stefanski went 45-56 overall.
The Browns made the playoffs twice under Stefanski, and the team’s postseason win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Jan. 10, 2021, is the only one the franchise has achieved since it was restored in 1999.
He earned the NFL’s top coaching honor in 2020 and 2023 when the Browns won 11 games each season. Those were his lone winning seasons in Cleveland.
“I’m beyond thrilled to be charged with leading this iconic franchise,” Stefanski said in the Falcons’ news release. “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.”
–Field Level Media
