Kevin Stefanski is coming to Atlanta. After most recently serving as head coach of the Cleveland Browns and previously completing a long career as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Vikings, Stefanski will now be the 20th head coach in franchise history and will report directly to President of Football, Matt Ryan. Stefanski, 43, succeeds Raheem Morris, who was released after two seasons at the end of the 2025 regular season.
“We are very pleased to have Kevin Stefanski on board as a leader who leads by example and brings a clear vision for his coaching staff, our team and a narrow focus on building this team – based on fundamentals, toughness and active collaboration in all areas of football operations,” said Ryan. “Coach Stefanski is a team-oriented leader who values accountability at all levels and a player-driven culture. His experiences in Cleveland and Minnesota have given him a deep understanding of the importance of working closely with scouting, human resources and the entire staff to best maximize the talent on the roster and do everything we can to put our players in the best position for success. Kevin’s leadership style, combined with the coaching staff and infrastructure here in Atlanta, gives us great confidence in our shared vision for this team. We are very pleased to welcome him as head coach of our football team.”
Stefanski was named AP Coach of the Year in 2020 after leading the Browns to the playoffs for the first time since 2002 with an 11-5 record and their first playoff win since 1994 – the team’s best single-season record since 1994. He received the award again in 2023 when Cleveland made the playoffs again and finished the season 11-6. Since the Browns’ return to Cleveland, the team has reached the playoffs three times, two of those three appearances came under Stefanski’s leadership. During his tenure, his teams consistently ranked among the league’s best running game offenses, including three top-six finishes in average rushing yards per game. His overall record in Cleveland was 45-56.
“I am incredibly proud to be entrusted with the leadership of this iconic franchise,” said Stefanski. “I am very grateful to Mr. Blank and Matt Ryan for trusting me to coach this team. We have many talented players on our roster and I can’t wait to work with them. We share a vision for this team that I am confident will make Falcons fans everywhere proud. We will begin immediately to assemble a world-class coaching staff and work hard to get to know all of the great people who will play such an important role in getting us to our goal together.”
Prior to his time in Cleveland, Stefanski was part of the Minnesota Vikings coaching staff for 14 years. During this time, he worked his way up from assistant coach to offensive coordinator, working under head coaches Brad Childress, Leslie Frazier and Mike Zimmer.
Before beginning his coaching career, Stefanski played defensive back at the University of Pennsylvania from 2000 to 2004. There he was twice elected to the All-Ivy League team and was named the Quakers’ Freshman of the Year.
Arthur M. Blank on Kevin Stefanski:
“In Kevin Stefanski, we have found a coach who has the right vision, focus and demeanor to lead our team into the future. After extensive research and a very compelling meeting with him, I am convinced that he is the right coach to take the talent of our squad to a new level and, together with Matt, our new general manager, and the entire football staff, to build on the strong foundation that is already in place. He has a clear plan for his coaching staff and has during his stints in Cleveland and Minnesota gained valuable experience that has prepared him for this moment. Our goal is to win games and compete for championships every year. We are committed to providing Coach Stefanski with all the necessary support and all the necessary resources to achieve this success.
