Kevin Stefanski has found himself a new home in the peach state.
Stefanski, who was fired by the Browns following their 5-12 season, has signed a deal to take over as the Falcons’ head coach, the team announced on Saturday.
The exact details of Stefanski’s contract have not yet been made public, with him having met with the Falcons in Atlanta on Saturday.
The move marks Matt Ryan’s first major move since taking the reins of president of football for the Falcons earlier this month, with the former quarterback praising Stefanski in a statement.
“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, according to the Falcons’ website. “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.
“Kevin’s style of leadership, combined with the staff and infrastructure in place here in Atlanta, gives us confidence in our shared vision for the team and we are excited to have him as the leader of our football team.”
Atlanta will be Stefanski’s second NFL team where’s he had the head coaching job following his six-season stint in Cleveland.
“I’m beyond thrilled to be charged with leading this iconic franchise,” Stefanski said. “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 tenure in Cleveland started high, as he was named AP Coach of the Year in 2020 for bringing the Browns to the postseason for the first time since 2002, and was given the award again in 2023 after leading the team to an 11-6 record.
The past two years were a let down for the Browns, however, with Stefanski posting just an 8-26 record across his final two seasons in Cleveland.
