Things, or rather the challenges around him, have not changed much for Kevin Stefanski, even though the team and the setting are different. After surviving six years of dysfunction with the Cleveland Browns and managing his fair share of offseason quarterback competitions, he’ll once again find himself doing just that with the Atlanta Falcons.
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Of course, it is a little better for Stefanski in Atlanta since he will only have to pick between two quarterbacks, not four. Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins are in contention for the Falcons QB1 job, and the new head coach has to once again make that big choice.
Much has been made of Atlanta’s $180-million deal with Cousins. But now that he’s officially made it through two full seasons with the Falcons, it’s safe to say that no other team is interested in picking up that contract, no matter how needy they may be. The expectation is that Cousins will eventually be released, but according to Stefanski, that’s not a foregone conclusion just yet.
“I think we have to hire a general manager first before I can give you a great answer there,” explained Stefanski to NFL Network‘s Judy Battista. “Once we do that, I’ll sit with the general manager, sit with Matt Ryan, and put our heads together on all roster decisions.”
New @AtlantaFalcons head coach Kevin Stefanski joined @judybattista from The Insiders! pic.twitter.com/Z5XiH2BCsH
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) January 28, 2026
Given the results of his last quarterback race in Cleveland, many are assuming that Stefanski would favor Cousins over the unproven talent in Penix Jr. However, the former Browns head coach made it a point to suggest that he thinks “very highly” of the younger QB.
Penix Jr. is “doing great” and “everything that he is supposed to be doing” while rehabbing his ACL injury, Stefanski added.
However, nothing will be decided until the Falcons find their next general manager. It’s the most important decision that the franchise has faced in the last few years. Should they fail to get it right, not only will it risk their performance in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, but also their outlook for the next five years.
If you need an example of what an ineffective GM can do to a franchise, look no further than the Miami Dolphins or the Baltimore Ravens. The two teams have wasted the time and potential of players like Tyreek Hill and Lamar Jackson by not providing an adequate supporting cast. Just like whiffing on a top draft pick or trading away a generational player, hiring the wrong general manager is a common yet costly blunder.
The Falcons haven’t seen, let alone won, a playoff game since 2017. Proof that they have yet to recover from that historic 28-3 collapse at Super Bowl LI. However, they have a chance here to find a GM who is capable of carrying them out from that shadow. Understandably, they will take their time to decide this one. The quarterback decision will surely follow after that.
