The Atlanta Falcons have made their move - Kevin Stefanski is officially the new head coach, and the expectation is clear: fix an offense that sputtered through 2025 and get this team back to the postseason for the first time in eight years. It’s a big job, but Stefanski brings a proven track record and a steady hand. The Falcons are betting that experience, paired with a roster that’s more talented than its recent record suggests, can be the formula to turn things around.
But let’s not pretend this is a plug-and-play situation. There’s still work to be done, and nowhere is that more obvious than at quarterback.
Michael Penix Jr. has yet to lock down the role of franchise QB, and while the tools are there, the consistency hasn’t been. That makes the backup quarterback spot - and the mentorship that comes with it - a critical piece of the puzzle heading into 2026.
Enter Joe Flacco.
Yes, Flacco. The 41-year-old veteran might not be the same guy who led the Ravens to a Super Bowl, but he’s still got something left in the tank - and more importantly, he knows how to operate within Stefanski’s system.
The two worked together in Cleveland, and it was Flacco who helped Stefanski earn his second Coach of the Year award by guiding the Browns to the playoffs just two seasons ago. That kind of trust and familiarity between coach and quarterback shouldn’t be underestimated.
Flacco’s 2025 season was a bit of a roller coaster. After Cleveland traded him midseason to make room for younger arms, he landed in Cincinnati and stepped in for an injured Joe Burrow.
The Bengals only went 1-5 in his six starts, but Flacco threw 13 touchdowns to just four interceptions - a stat line that shows he can still make the right reads and deliver the ball with authority. He may not be mobile, but he’s smart, experienced, and unflappable in the pocket.
With Kirk Cousins likely on the way out - a move that seems all but certain this offseason - the Falcons will need another veteran presence in the quarterback room. Cousins has been a mentor to Penix, but Flacco could be a better fit for what Stefanski wants to build in Atlanta.
He’s been a steady presence in multiple locker rooms over the past few years, and he’s always ready to step in when called upon. That’s a valuable insurance policy, especially with Penix still rehabbing from a torn ACL and his Week 1 availability in question.
And let’s be real: using a high draft pick on another quarterback doesn’t make much sense for this team right now. There are bigger needs on the roster, and with the depth of the upcoming free-agent QB class, Atlanta has options. Flacco, with his experience and system familiarity, stands out as one of the best stopgap solutions available.
He’s started at least four games in each of the last four seasons, and while he’s not the long-term answer, he’s exactly the kind of short-term stabilizer who can guide an offense if Penix isn’t ready - or if he struggles out of the gate. And if Flacco does have to start, he won’t be doing it alone. Atlanta has legitimate weapons on offense, giving any quarterback a fighting chance to produce.
This hire isn’t just about Stefanski’s playbook - it’s about bringing in players who fit his vision. And for what the Falcons need at the quarterback position, Joe Flacco checks a lot of boxes.
He’s not a flashy move, but he’s a smart one. And right now, that’s exactly what this franchise needs.