Kevin Stefanski, Falcons Agree to Reported 5-Year HC Contract After Raheem Morris Firing

The Atlanta Falcons have hired Kevin Stefanski to become the 20th head coach in franchise history, the team announced Saturday.

Stefanski signed a five-year deal, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported that Falcons president of football Matt Ryan "drove the search" and "called many people in the NFL the last week to learn more about Stefanski and his style as a leader."

According to Russini, there is a possibility offensive line coach Bill Callahan and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees could be joining Stefanski in Atlanta, although "details are still being worked through."

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport described Rees as "a strong OC candidate."

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported the Falcons "moved swiftly" in part because the Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens wanted second interviews with Stefanski.

Stefanski will succeed Raheem Morris, who was fired by the Falcons after posting back-to-back seasons with an 8-9 record in 2024 and 2025.

The hiring of Morris prior to the 2024 campaign coincided with some major overhauls within the Falcons organization. None was bigger than the changes made at quarterback, as Atlanta signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract in free agency, and then selected Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Despite the addition of two high-profile quarterbacks less than two years ago, that position remains in flux, and it is an issue the incoming head coach will have to solve in order for the Falcons to succeed in 2026 and beyond.

Penix took over as the Falcons' starting quarterback late in the 2024 season after Cousins faltered, and he began 2025 as the starter as well.

However, Penix went just 3-6 as the starter in 2025 before a torn ACL knocked him out for the remainder of the season.

As of now, it is unclear if Penix will be healthy by the start of the 2026 regular season, and it is equally unclear if Cousins will still be on the roster entering the 2026 campaign.

Still, the Falcons were among the most desirable head coaching jobs available because of the young talent on both sides of the ball.

An argument can be made that Bijan Robinson is the best all-around running back in the league, and when healthy, Drake London established himself as a true, go-to guy at wide receiver.

Defensively, the Falcons ranked second in the NFL with 57 sacks in 2025, led by pass-rusher James Pearce, who had 10.5 sacks as a rookie. Additionally, defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus had 8.5 sacks in his second NFL season, and Jalon Walker added another 5.5 sacks in his rookie campaign.

The Falcons' talent is undeniable, and it can be argued that they are a stable head coach and quarterback away from reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2017. The first part of that equation may be solved with the hiring of Stefanski.

In Stefanski, the Falcons landed a highly respected offensive coach who is fresh off a six-year stint as head coach of the Cleveland Browns.

Stefanski was twice named NFL Coach of the Year in Cleveland and led the Browns to the playoffs in 2020 and 2023, marking their first two postseason appearances since 2002.

However, the Browns went 3-14 in 2024 and 5-12 in 2025, missing the playoffs both years. Overall, Stefanski went 45-56 during his time in Cleveland.

Cleveland never finished better than 14th in total offense or 10th in scoring during Stefanski's tenure, but he will look to make a more sizable offensive impact with a Falcons team that has a significant amount of talent on that side of the ball.