Kevin Stefanski may have a new home in Atlanta, but he’s not leaving the past behind-especially when it comes to two young quarterbacks he helped mold in Cleveland. On a recent appearance on The Dan Patrick Show, the new Falcons head coach opened up about his time working with Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel during their rookie seasons with the Browns.
Both quarterbacks arrived in Cleveland via the 2025 NFL Draft-Gabriel as a third-round pick and Sanders, the son of Coach Prime, as a fifth-rounder at pick No. 144. Stefanski, who coached the Browns for six seasons before being let go after a 5-12 campaign, had a front-row seat to their development.
“Those two young players, I love those guys,” Stefanski said. “I loved coaching them. I love their development.”
It wasn’t just lip service. Stefanski made it clear that both Sanders and Gabriel showed real growth over the course of their rookie years.
“Both those guys can point to their rookie seasons and say, ‘Man, they got better in these areas,’” he said. “Developing young quarterbacks is something we want to be at the forefront of.”
And there’s a case to be made that both QBs did exactly that-improve. The Browns entered the 2025 season with Joe Flacco as the starting quarterback, Gabriel slotted as the backup, and Sanders as the third-string option. But the depth chart didn’t stay static for long.
By Week 5, Gabriel had taken over the starting job from Flacco, who was later traded to the Bengals. That move bumped Sanders up to the QB2 spot. Gabriel went on to start 10 games, throwing for 937 yards and seven touchdowns before a concussion in Week 11 sidelined him.
That opened the door for Sanders, who stepped into the starting role and didn’t look back. Over the final eight games of the season, he threw for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns-solid numbers for a rookie thrust into action midseason.
Now, as Stefanski settles into his new role in Atlanta, he faces another quarterback conundrum. The Falcons’ roster features two intriguing options: veteran Kirk Cousins, a four-time Pro Bowler who signed a four-year, $180 million deal in 2024, and Michael Penix Jr., the team’s 2024 first-round pick whose rookie season was cut short by an ACL injury.
Asked about who might be under center for Atlanta in 2026, Stefanski kept things measured.
“I think we have to hire a general manager first, before I can give you a great answer there,” he said. “Once we do that, I’ll sit with the general manager, sit with Matt Ryan, we’ll put our heads together on all roster decisions.”
That key front-office hire has now been made, with Ian Cunningham stepping in as the Falcons’ new GM. With Cunningham on board, the next phase is clear: evaluate the roster, make tough decisions, and figure out who’s leading the huddle come Week 1.
Cousins’ future remains uncertain, with reports suggesting the Falcons may move on from the veteran signal-caller this offseason. If that happens, all eyes will turn to Penix. The big-armed lefty showed promise before his injury, but whether he’s ready to take the reins as QB1 remains one of the biggest questions facing Atlanta heading into 2026.
For Stefanski, though, quarterback development isn’t just a job-it’s a priority. And if his track record with Gabriel and Sanders is any indication, the Falcons’ young talent may be in good hands.