The Atlanta Falcons ended their season on a high note, rattling off four straight wins. But despite that late surge, it wasn’t enough to punch a ticket to the postseason - marking the eighth consecutive year without a playoff appearance. That streak, and the broader lack of progress, prompted a full-scale reset in Atlanta's front office.
Out are head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot. In a bold and somewhat sentimental move, the Falcons turned to franchise legend Matt Ryan - not as a quarterback this time, but as president of football operations. Ryan was tasked with leading the search for new leadership, and he didn’t waste time making his mark.
Enter Kevin Stefanski as head coach and Ian Cunningham as general manager. Stefanski, known for his offensive acumen and steady hand, brings a resume that includes playoff experience and a reputation for maximizing quarterback play.
Cunningham, meanwhile, has built a strong reputation as a front office mind with a sharp eye for talent and roster construction. Together, they’ll be charged with steering the Falcons out of the wilderness and back into contention.
That journey won’t be easy - but it might be more manageable than it appears on paper.
The NFL hasn’t released the full 2026 schedule yet, but we do know who everyone will be facing. And based on opponent win percentages from last season, Atlanta’s path isn’t the toughest.
In fact, the Falcons are tied for the 28th-easiest strength of schedule in the league, with their 2026 opponents combining for a .465 winning percentage last year. Only four teams - the Bengals, Saints, and Browns - have an easier road, at least on paper.
Here’s how the full strength of schedule rankings shake out for 2026:
- Chicago Bears (.550)
- Miami Dolphins (.542)
- Arizona Cardinals (.538)
- Green Bay Packers (.538)
- Kansas City Chiefs (.536)
- New England Patriots (.531)
- Las Vegas Raiders (.529)
- Buffalo Bills (.528)
- Los Angeles Chargers (.522)
- Carolina Panthers (.521)
- Minnesota Vikings (.519)
- New York Jets (.517)
- Los Angeles Rams (.516)
- Seattle Seahawks (.514)
- Denver Broncos (.512)
- Washington Commanders (.502)
- New York Giants (.498)
- San Francisco 49ers (.497)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (.495)
- Dallas Cowboys (.493)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (.491)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (.490)
- Philadelphia Eagles (.481)
- Baltimore Ravens (.479)
- Tennessee Titans (.476)
- Houston Texans (.474)
- Detroit Lions (.467)
- Atlanta Falcons (.465)
- Indianapolis Colts (.465)
- Cincinnati Bengals (.450)
- New Orleans Saints (.434)
- Cleveland Browns (.429)
So while the Falcons are starting over at the top, their 2026 schedule could offer some breathing room as the new regime settles in. That doesn’t mean it’ll be a cakewalk - the NFL rarely is - but it gives Stefanski and Cunningham a fighting chance to make some early noise.
With a clean slate, a manageable schedule, and a franchise icon now steering the ship from the front office, the Falcons’ rebuild has a different feel this time. The pieces are in place. Now it’s about execution.