Falcons Hire Kevin Stefanski - What It Means for the Steelers’ Coaching Search
The Atlanta Falcons have locked in their next head coach, hiring former Browns head man Kevin Stefanski - a move that doesn’t directly involve the Pittsburgh Steelers, but could still ripple through their own coaching search in a big way.
Stefanski, who gave the Steelers plenty of problems during his tenure in Cleveland, was reportedly the only candidate to get a second interview with Atlanta, signaling he was their top choice. Now that he’s off the board, the dominoes are starting to fall - and Pittsburgh is right in the middle of the action.
Here’s why this matters for the Steelers: while they weren’t pursuing Stefanski themselves, the Falcons were targeting many of the same candidates Pittsburgh has their eye on. That includes Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, Packers DC Jeff Hafley, Chargers DC Jesse Minter, and Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver. With Atlanta now out of the race for those names, the Steelers may have a clearer path to land one of their top targets.
But there’s a catch - Pittsburgh is late to the party. They’re the only team among the nine with head coaching vacancies this offseason that made the playoffs, which means they had to wait longer to begin their interview process. While other teams have already wrapped up their first rounds of interviews, the Steelers only got theirs underway on Friday.
That delay could make things tricky. With other teams moving fast and making hires - Stefanski in Atlanta and John Harbaugh landing with the New York Giants earlier on Saturday - the Steelers are navigating a coaching carousel that’s already in motion. Every new hire narrows the field and reshuffles the availability of top candidates.
Still, Stefanski heading to Atlanta could end up helping Pittsburgh more than hurting. If the Falcons are no longer competing for the same names, the Steelers can move forward with a bit more clarity - and a little less competition - as they look to find the right leader for their next chapter.