The Atlanta Falcons made their preseason debut under head coach Kevin Stefanski on Friday night, and things didn't go as planned. The team's 27-7 loss to Denver was so bad that Broncos head coach Sean Payton couldn't help but troll Atlanta's half-empty stadium at halftime. The Falcons' new offense, led by Tua Tagovailoa, failed to impress in the two drives it took the field. Plus, Atlanta's defense struggled to stop the run and gave up too many big plays. With all of that said, it's hard to get too bent out of shape over a preseason opener. Stefanski was brought in to clean things up on offense and get the most out of a talented roster that hasn't been able to get over the hump. Having taken the Cleveland Browns to the playoffs multiple times, the two-time Coach of the Year winner knows what it takes to win, but can he do it again in Atlanta? Bucky Brooks over at NFL.com ranked Stefanski as the league's fifth-best new head coach going into the 2026 season.
"Despite the coach's 8-26 record since the start of the 2024 season, Atlanta is buzzing about Stefanski's potential to engineer a quick turnaround for a team that has routinely underachieved despite boasting a collection of talented playmakers. While some of the previous struggles can be pinned on inconsistent quarterback play, the Falcons are hoping a respected QB developer can stabilize the all-important position. With continuity and stability on the defensive side of the ball under Jeff Ulbrich -- who was retained from the previous staff -- Atlanta could transition quite well into the Stefanski era." - Bucky Brooks, NFL.com
Stefanski was ranked behind Baltimore Ravens coach Jesse Minter, Buffalo Bills coach Joe Brady, New York Giants coach John Harbaugh and Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike McCarthy. Minter and Brady being ranked above Stefanski is debatable, as both are first-time head coaches taking over teams with high expectations. Harbaugh and McCarthy at least have Super Bowl rings, even if they got them well over a decade ago. As Brooks mentioned, Stefanski was wise to retain Jeff Ulbrich as defensive coordinator. The team recorded a franchise-record 57 sacks last season. We'll see if Atlanta fares any better when the regular season kicks off on Sept. 13 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Kevin Stefanski ranked among NFL's 10 new head coaches