The Atlanta Falcons have made a bold move to kick off their 2026 offseason, naming Kevin Stefanski as their new head coach. Stefanski, fresh off his tenure with the Cleveland Browns, steps in to replace Raheem Morris and is already shaping his staff with a clear vision in mind.
At the center of that vision? Two familiar names: Tommy Rees and Jeff Ulbrich.
While no official announcements have been made yet, Stefanski is reportedly aiming to retain Ulbrich as his defensive coordinator and bring Rees with him to run the offense. These moves would bring both continuity and familiarity to a Falcons team looking to turn the page and find a new identity.
Ulbrich just wrapped up his first year as Atlanta’s defensive coordinator, helping guide a unit that landed around the middle of the pack in both scoring and total yards allowed. It wasn’t a dominant showing, but there were flashes of promise.
Ulbrich’s connection to the Falcons runs deep-this is actually his second stint with the team. From 2015 to 2020, he worked his way up from linebackers coach to assistant head coach and even served as interim defensive coordinator.
That institutional knowledge, paired with his recent experience calling plays, makes him a logical holdover as Stefanski looks to build something sustainable.
Before landing in Atlanta, Ulbrich spent four seasons with the New York Jets as their defensive coordinator, eventually stepping in as interim head coach. That kind of leadership experience, especially in high-pressure environments, could be invaluable for a Falcons team that’s been searching for consistency on the defensive side of the ball.
On the offensive end, Stefanski is expected to bring in Tommy Rees, who just completed his first season as the Browns’ offensive coordinator. Rees, only 33, has quickly climbed the coaching ladder.
After a year as Cleveland’s passing game coordinator and tight ends coach, he took over the offense and helped the Browns finish fourth in total yards-an impressive feat considering they had to cycle through three starting quarterbacks. That kind of adaptability is no small thing in today’s NFL, where injuries and instability at quarterback can derail a season in a hurry.
Rees has also logged significant time in the college ranks, with stops at Alabama and Notre Dame, where he served as offensive coordinator. His background blends traditional pro-style concepts with modern spread elements, making him a versatile fit for Stefanski’s system. And after proving he can keep an offense humming under tough circumstances, he now gets a shot to do it again-this time in Atlanta.
For the Falcons, this coaching transition isn’t just about swapping out names on the sideline. It’s about establishing a new tone and identity.
Stefanski brings a proven offensive mind and a calm, methodical approach to game management. Pairing that with Ulbrich’s defensive continuity and Rees’ rising offensive acumen could give Atlanta a fresh, balanced foundation to build on.
There’s still a lot to be finalized, but if these hires come through as expected, the Falcons could be setting themselves up for a much-needed reset-one that blends new ideas with familiar faces and real NFL experience.