Falcons Land Kevin Stefanski as Head Coach, Bypassing GM Hire in Unconventional Move
The Atlanta Falcons have made their move - and it’s a bold one. On Saturday night, the team agreed to hire Kevin Stefanski as their next head coach, opting to lock in one of the top names in this cycle before finalizing their general manager search. It’s a decision that speaks volumes about the new power structure in Atlanta - and it’s turning heads across the league.
Let’s unpack the timeline. Stefanski’s hiring came shortly after the New York Giants finalized their deal with John Harbaugh, a move that also impacted the Green Bay Packers.
Harbaugh had been linked to Green Bay, but once he was off the board, the Packers quickly pivoted and reached an extension with Matt LaFleur. That move closed the door on a potential coaching shakeup in Green Bay - and, indirectly, closed the door on the Falcons’ reported interest in LaFleur.
With LaFleur no longer an option, Atlanta wasted no time. They moved decisively to bring in Stefanski, who was reportedly the Giants’ second choice behind Harbaugh and widely viewed as one of the more appealing candidates available. But while the hire itself is a headline, the how behind it is just as intriguing.
A New Power Structure in Atlanta
The Falcons made this hire without a general manager in place - a rare move in today’s NFL. Instead, the decision came under the leadership of Matt Ryan, the franchise’s former quarterback and newly appointed president of football.
Ryan, who took on the role on January 10, is now the central figure in Atlanta’s front office. And according to team owner Arthur Blank, he’s the one holding the final say on all football decisions.
“Our new head coach and general manager will report to the new president of football, and they will work collaboratively as a football leadership team on all football decisions,” Blank said. “Final decision-making authority will rest with the president of football...
The general manager will do his job, the head coach will do their job. They both will be accountable to the president of football.
It'll be a dialog, exchange of ideas, etc.”
That setup sounds like a team effort on paper. But the reality is, Stefanski was hired before a general manager was even in the building - meaning there was no “dialog” or “exchange of ideas” between Ryan and a GM before one of the most critical decisions a franchise can make.
What It Means for the GM Search
This new structure is already having ripple effects. One of the reported candidates for the Falcons’ general manager job is Ian Cunningham, currently the assistant GM in Chicago.
But because the Falcons’ GM role is now considered a lateral move - not a promotion - the Bears wouldn’t receive compensatory draft picks if Cunningham were to leave. That’s a direct result of the GM reporting to Ryan rather than operating as the top football executive.
And let’s be honest: the job might be a tougher sell now. Any incoming general manager will be walking into a situation where they didn’t pick the head coach, and they won’t have final authority on football decisions.
That dynamic introduces risk - especially if Stefanski doesn’t pan out. In that case, the GM could be the one left holding the bag for a hire they didn’t make.
Stefanski’s Second Act
As for Stefanski, this is a chance to reset after a rocky finish in Cleveland. While he had early success with the Browns, including a Coach of the Year award, his final two seasons were tough - going 8-26 over that span. The Falcons are betting that with a new environment and a restructured front office, Stefanski can recapture the form that once made him one of the league’s most promising young coaches.
But make no mistake - the pressure is on. Atlanta’s leadership has made a clear statement by hiring a coach before a GM, and that decision will be scrutinized heavily if results don’t come quickly.
For now, Stefanski gets a fresh start. The Falcons get their guy. And the rest of the league will be watching closely to see how this new model in Atlanta plays out.