CLEVELAND, Ohio — It didn’t take long for two-time NFL Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski to find a new head coach gig.
Just 12 days after the Browns fired him, Stefanski was announced Saturday night as the Falcons’ 20th full-time head coach, where he’ll report to the team’s new president of football, Matt Ryan.
He signed a five-year deal with the Falcons after signing a multi-year extension with the Browns before the 2024 season.
The Browns will host the Falcons in 2026 in Stefanski’s first return engagement in Cleveland. And he’ll bring some familiar faces back to town with him.
Stefanski is expected to take Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees with him to Atlanta, meaning the Browns — in the thick of their coaching search — will be in the hunt for a new coordinator on that side of the ball.
If Stefanski hires former Titans head coach Brian Callahan as his offensive coordinator, Rees could possibly be pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. It might also mean a reunion between Stefanski and former Browns offensive line coach Bill Callahan, Brian’s dad.
Stefanski might also take special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone with him, and possibly others.
“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 post on the team’s 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.”
Stefanski, 43, led the Browns to a 45-56 record in his six seasons with two playoff appearances, but his 5-12 record in 2025 didn’t meet the expectations of owner Jimmy Haslam despite the fact he was breaking in third-round quarterback Dillon Gabriel (1-5) and fifth-round quarterback Shedeur Sanders (3-4). The Browns also went 3-14 in 2024, a season in which Deshaun Watson suffered a ruptured Achilles.
“I’m beyond thrilled to be charged with leading this iconic franchise,” Stefanski said. “I am grateful to Mr. (Arthur) 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 will be reunited with his former Vikings quarterback, Kirk Cousins, who went 5-3 down the stretch for the Falcons this season in relief of 2024 No. 8 overall pick Michael Penix (partially torn ACL). Under contract through 2027, Cousins has a potential out after this season with a dead cap charge of $35 million, but the Falcons will probably need him with Penix not due back from his ACL rehab until July or August.
While Stefanski quickly turns the page on his Browns career, the Browns are still in the midst of their search to replace him. They really like some of their young candidates such as Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, 35, and Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, who could get second interviews soon. But the Browns will also conduct second interviews this week with their own defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz (Monday) and Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken (Tuesday), and could opt for a more experienced leader.
But the Falcons’ hiring of Stefanski proves that one owner’s castoff is another’s treasure.
“In Kevin Stefanski, we have found a coach with the right vision, focus and demeanor to lead our team into the future,” Blank said. “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, our new GM and all our football personnel to build on the strong foundation in place and take it to new heights.
“He has a great plan for his staff, and he’s learned many things during his stops in Cleveland and Minnesota that have prepared him for this moment. Our objective is to win games and contend for championships every year and that is where our shared focus will remain. We are committed to putting all necessary support and resources around Coach Stefanski to achieve that success, and the work has already begun.”
Despite Haslam saying that Stefanski didn’t win enough games in 2025 with the talent on the roster, he was highly sought-after in this cycle, also interviewing with the Giants, Titans, Dolphins and Raiders. If he hadn’t reached a deal on Saturday with the Falcons, he was set for second interviews with the Titans and other suitors.
He leaves behind an uncertain quarterback situation in Cleveland, with Sanders and Watson set to compete for the starting job unless the Browns draft another quarterback or acquire another veteran. Stefanski needed 13 quarterbacks to get through the past three seasons, including five in the playoff campaign of 2023, and started 13 different signal-callers overall in his six seasons.
In Atlanta, he’ll also face his former Browns quarterback, Baker Mayfield, now with the Bucs, twice a year.
Stefanski is one of three AFC North coaches who parted ways with their teams this year in a massive shakeup in the division. John Harbaugh was fired by the Ravens after 18 seasons, and Mike Tomlin stepped down as Steelers coach after 19 seasons. Only Bengals coach Zac Taylor remains in the new-look division.
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