ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons made their choice Saturday, and it’s a strong one.
Kevin Stefanski, the former Cleveland Browns head coach and two-time NFL Coach of the Year, is officially the new head coach of the Falcons after completing a second interview with the team, as EasySportz previously reported. Atlanta moved decisively, and for good reason. This is not a splash hire for headlines — it’s a substance hire for winning.
EasySportz reported Saturday afternoon that Stefanski was the runaway favorite and all but guaranteed the job, which proved correct.
Now, for the fun part. It’s time to grade this hire. Of course, all of our grades should be taken with a grain of salt, for a variety of reasons.
First, we have to see the roster take the field next fall. Second, we do not know who Stefanski gets to work with under center at quarterback.
For the time being, however…
EasySportz grades the move as an A-, with room to climb.
Stefanski arrives with a résumé that matters. In Cleveland, he took over one of the league’s most dysfunctional franchises and turned it into a consistent playoff contender, guiding the Browns to two postseason appearances and earning Coach of the Year honors twice. His teams were disciplined, efficient and competitive, often outperforming expectations despite instability at quarterback and injuries across the roster.
That background fits Atlanta’s current moment almost perfectly. The Falcons are not rebuilding. They are ready to win now. The roster has legitimate skill talent, a capable offensive line and a defense that showed real progress. What Atlanta lacked was structure, clarity and a coach capable of maximizing what’s already in the building. Stefanski brings all three.
Where the hire gets interesting — and where the asterisk comes in — is at quarterback.
Stefanski’s success has historically come with experienced quarterbacks who can operate on schedule and distribute the ball efficiently. In Minnesota, he helped unlock Kirk Cousins’ best football. In Cleveland, he won games with multiple quarterbacks by leaning on structure, play-action and game management. That context matters when evaluating Atlanta’s current quarterback room.
Simply put, the Michael Penix Jr. experiment is unlikely to work in this setting. That’s not an indictment of Penix as a prospect, but rather a recognition of timeline and fit. Atlanta is not positioned to wait. Stefanski is not a developmental-first coach. If the Falcons want this hire to reach A or A+ territory, the quarterback situation must be addressed quickly and decisively.
That could mean sticking with Cousins, upgrading the position entirely, or exploring alternatives such as Will Levis or Sam Howell. What it almost certainly does not mean is handing the keys to Penix and hoping for the best. Stefanski’s arrival strongly suggests Atlanta is aware of that reality and plans to act accordingly this spring.
One mild concern remains on the offensive staff, particularly the presence of Tommy Rees as offensive coordinator and the lack of a clearly defined quarterback hierarchy at the moment. That, too, feels temporary. Stefanski has earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to staffing and system building, and history suggests he will shape the room to his liking.
For now, though, the Falcons deserve credit. Owner Arthur Blank, team president Matt Ryan and the organization resisted the temptation to chase flash and instead landed one of the most respected program builders on the market. Stefanski may not dominate headlines, but his teams tend to dominate expectations.
An A- is the right grade today — strong, smart and promising, with one major variable still unresolved. Check back in March and April. If Atlanta upgrades the quarterback position and aligns it with Stefanski’s strengths, this hire could quickly move into top-tier territory.
For now, it’s a job well done in Atlanta — and a sign the Falcons are serious about winning again.
Check Out All EasySportz NFL Content Here!
Jaguars Season Preview, A Look Back!
