Kevin Stefanski’s arrival at the Atlanta Falcons immediately reopened an old NFL wound. His hiring as Falcons head coach dragged unresolved emotions from the Cleveland Browns back into the spotlight, thanks to pointed comments from Baker Mayfield. Stefanski’s first public response did little to escalate the feud, but it ensured the storyline would linger.
Kevin Stefanski Takes the High Road as Old Tensions Resurface
New Falcons head coach Stefanski addressed recent remarks from Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Mayfield, choosing restraint over retaliation. Stefanski emphasized mutual respect while acknowledging the competitive edge the situation brings to the NFC South.
An X post by Maura Carey read, “New #Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski on Baker Mayfield’s comments the other day.”
“Baker’s somebody that I have a ton of respect for as a player and a person. I love rivalries in sports, and obviously, Buccaneers-Falcons have a great rivalry. It’s something that I’m excited about. But I would not get into the specifics of those type of things, other than to say I have a ton of respect for Baker as a player, as a person, that’s a great team with a great player,” it continued.
Stefanski’s measured tone contrasted sharply with Mayfield’s earlier social media post, which criticized how their time together ended at the Browns. Reacting to commentary about his performance under Stefanski, Mayfield made it clear he still feels wronged by the Browns era.
New #Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski on Baker Mayfield’s comments the other day:
“Baker’s somebody that I have a ton of respect for as a player and a person. I love rivalries in sports, and obviously, Buccaneers-Falcons have a great rivalry. It’s something that I’m excited about.…
— Maura Carey (@mauracareyAP) January 27, 2026
“Failed is quite the reach pal. Still waiting on a text/call from him after I got shipped off like a piece of garbage. Can’t wait to see you twice a year, Coach,” Mayfield said. The tension traces back to their overlapping tenure with the Browns, where Stefanski and Mayfield helped pull the franchise out of prolonged irrelevance.
The Browns snapped their playoff drought in 2020 and earned a postseason win, with Mayfield ranking 12th in the PFSN NFL QB Impact Score that year. But the relationship deteriorated after a missed playoff run in 2021, culminating in Mayfield’s departure and the Browns moving forward without him.
According to reporting by Brandon Astreicher of PFSN, Mayfield has carried resentment over the lack of communication following his exit. That frustration now follows Stefanski to the Falcons, where he replaces Raheem Morris after back-to-back 8-9 seasons.
Stefanski arrives with a mixed recent resume: 45-56 in six seasons with the Browns, including two Coach of the Year awards, but also an 8-26 record over his final two campaigns.
The Falcons, meanwhile, are desperate for stability. They have not made the playoffs in eight seasons and have not posted a winning record since 2017. Stefanski inherits a talented roster but faces quarterback uncertainty with Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr., a familiar challenge from his days in Cleveland.
With Stefanski now leading the Falcons and Mayfield entrenched with the Buccaneers, their shared history adds a personal edge to an already intense divisional rivalry. Stefanski may prefer to keep emotions in check, but the comments ensure these matchups will be circled long before kickoff.
