Kevin Stefanski is already making moves in Atlanta, and if there’s one thing that stands out, it’s that he’s sticking with what-and who-he knows. As the Falcons’ new head coach, Stefanski is building his staff with familiar faces, bringing in former Browns executive Bob Quinn as a senior advisor and naming Tommy Rees as offensive coordinator. It’s a clear sign that Stefanski is crafting a coaching group he trusts-people he believes can help him turn things around in Atlanta.
He’s also retaining Jeff Ulbrich as defensive coordinator, a decision that likely has something to do with Jim Schwartz being in the mix for the Browns’ head coaching job. Add in the recent hire of Craig Aukerman as special teams coordinator, and Stefanski’s vision for his new team is starting to take shape. But what’s just as telling is who isn’t making the trip to Atlanta with him.
One name that jumps off the page is Bubba Ventrone.
Given Stefanski’s familiarity with the Browns’ coaching personnel, it wouldn’t have been surprising to see Ventrone-Cleveland’s special teams coordinator-get a call to join him in Atlanta. But that call never came. And that silence speaks volumes.
Ventrone was brought to Cleveland with a strong reputation as a special teams expert, but the results haven’t lived up to the billing. Last season, the Browns’ special teams unit struggled across the board.
They ranked last in the league in punt return yards allowed (522), and their ability to pin opponents deep was nearly nonexistent-ranking at the bottom in percentage of punts downed inside the 20-yard line. On the return side, things weren’t much better: 31st in kick return average, 25th in punt return average.
Those aren’t just bad numbers-they’re indicators of a unit that consistently lost the field position battle.
And it wasn’t a one-year blip. The Browns gave up 530 punt return yards in 2023, which ranked 31st in the NFL.
The year before? 450 yards allowed-29th in the league.
That’s a troubling trend, not a fluke. Add in kicker Dustin Hopkins’ inconsistent performance and the coaching staff’s continued faith in him despite the struggles, and it’s fair to question whether Ventrone’s approach was working.
Stefanski’s decision to bring back offensive line guru Bill Callahan, another trusted ally from his Cleveland days, makes his omission of Ventrone even more notable. Stefanski isn’t just cherry-picking old colleagues-he’s making strategic hires based on performance and trust.
If Ventrone didn’t make the cut, there’s likely a reason. Someone in the Browns’ front office may have been the driving force behind his hire, and that someone is likely Andrew Berry.
Berry, the Browns’ general manager, has taken a hands-on approach when it comes to coaching hires, and that approach has drawn plenty of scrutiny. While collaboration between the front office and coaching staff is important, micromanagement can muddy the waters. When a GM is too involved in staffing decisions, it can lead to mismatches-coaches being kept or hired not because they’re the right fit, but because of internal politics.
Now, with Stefanski gone and a new coaching staff being assembled in Cleveland, the Browns have a clean slate. And when it comes to special teams, that slate needs to be wiped completely clean.
The numbers don’t lie-this unit has underperformed for two straight seasons. If the Browns are serious about moving forward, they can’t afford to keep Ventrone in place.
Stefanski’s staff in Atlanta is a reflection of who he believes can help him succeed. The fact that Ventrone isn’t part of that group is telling. For Cleveland, it’s time to make a similar move.