Tonight, it was announced that former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski will be the new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.
Stefanski has the potential to turn the Falcons into the top contender in the NFC South. However, one NFL analyst is calling the move a “big mistake” for the Falcons.
NFL Analyst Gets Brutally Honest on Atlanta Falcons’ Kevin Stefanski Hire
In the midst of the Divisional Round match-up between the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks, NFL Insider Adam Schefter broke the news regarding Stefanski.
“ESPN sources: the Atlanta Falcons are finalizing a deal to hire Kevin Stefanski as their new head coach. The two-time NFL Coach of the Year flew to Atlanta on Saturday, and now will stay on to take over the Falcons’ head coaching job.”
Despite losing out on the John Harbaugh sweepstakes, the Falcons backed it up with the next best thing. Stefanski had a few other interviews lined up, but the Falcons didn’t let him leave the building, and now he’ll be running the show for the next few years.
However, shortly after the hiring was announced, Skip Bayless took to social media to call out the Falcons for hiring Stefanski. In his post, he said the following:
“The Atlanta Falcons hiring Kevin Stefanski is a big mistake. He’s overrated. Talks a good game with owners. Doesn’t connect with players. Arrogant, condescending. Now all that Falcons’ talent will be wasted.”
The Atlanta Falcons hiring Kevin Stefanski is a big mistake. He’s overrated. Talks a good game with owners. Doesn’t connect with players. Arrogant, condescending. Now all that Falcons’ talent will be wasted.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) January 18, 2026
Add this to the list of Bayless’ hot takes; feel free even to call it a horrible take.
In his six seasons with the Browns, Stefanski led the team to the playoffs twice (2020 & 2023), both of which coincided with the years he won his two AP NFL Coach of the Year Awards.
Over that span, he coached 101 regular-season games and finished his tenure with a 45-56 regular-season record and 1-2 playoff record.
Sure, you’d like to see more consistency out of Stefanski, but what is a guy to do when his quarterback room consists of Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and an injured Deshaun Watson?
With the Falcons, Stefanski will inherit a lot of talent, such as Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Michael Penix Jr. The Falcons finished the season with an 8-9 record, but so did the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Carolina Panthers.
With Stefanski’s guidance, the Falcons should be in consistently be a threat in the NFC South and even make waves in the playoffs.
