Kevin Stefanski isn’t taking the bait. The new Atlanta Falcons head coach had every opportunity to fire back at Baker Mayfield after the Buccaneers quarterback took a not-so-subtle shot at him on social media. But instead of trading jabs, Stefanski kept it classy and focused on what’s ahead.
Mayfield, who’s never been shy about speaking his mind, stirred the pot last week with a pointed message aimed at his former coach. Reflecting on their time together in Cleveland, Mayfield expressed frustration that Stefanski didn’t reach out after the Browns traded him in 2022. “Shipped off like a piece of garbage,” he wrote, before adding a fiery sign-off: “Can’t wait to see you twice a year, Coach.”
That message added some extra spice to an already simmering NFC South rivalry. But Stefanski didn’t bite.
“Baker’s somebody that I have a ton of respect for as a player and a person,” Stefanski said Tuesday. “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.”
That’s a veteran move from Stefanski-measured, respectful, and focused. And while he didn’t dive into the details, the history between the two is well-documented.
Back in 2020, Stefanski and Mayfield were at the center of one of the Browns’ most memorable seasons in recent history. They helped guide Cleveland to its first playoff win since 1994, knocking off the Steelers in the wild-card round.
It looked like the franchise had finally turned a corner. But the momentum didn’t last.
The following season, Mayfield played through a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder and struggled. By July 2022, the Browns had moved on, dealing him to the Panthers.
Now, nearly two years later, the two are set to face off twice a year in a division that’s suddenly brimming with storylines. And while Mayfield seems eager to circle those Falcons games on the calendar, Stefanski is keeping his eyes on the bigger picture.
The two-time AP Coach of the Year is already putting his stamp on the Falcons. He’s retained defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich and brought in Tommy Rees to run the offense. Stefanski confirmed that Rees will take over play-calling duties, a significant shift that shows trust in his new staff and a clear vision for how he wants the offense to operate.
The Falcons are hoping that Stefanski can bring some much-needed stability and success to a franchise that’s been stuck in neutral. Atlanta hasn’t seen the postseason since 2017 and has finished 8-9 in back-to-back seasons. That kind of mediocrity won’t cut it in a division that’s suddenly full of competitive fire-and now, even a little personal drama.
But if Stefanski’s calm, focused response to Mayfield is any indication, he’s not here for the noise. He’s here to win. And come fall, when the Falcons and Bucs line up across from each other, the scoreboard will do all the talking.