Kevin Stefanski’s Potential Move to Atlanta Could Clear the Lane for Steelers’ Coaching Search
The Atlanta Falcons are zeroing in on former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, and while he’s not on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ radar, his potential hire could still have a ripple effect on how things shake out in Pittsburgh’s own coaching search.
According to reports, Stefanski is the only candidate to land a second interview with the Falcons, and that second meeting is happening Saturday. That’s a strong signal that Atlanta may be ready to make a move - and soon.
Now, here’s where things get interesting for the Steelers. Pittsburgh hasn’t expressed interest in Stefanski - despite the fact that his Cleveland teams routinely gave the Steelers headaches - but if Atlanta locks him in, it could simplify the Steelers’ path forward. That’s because several of the Falcons’ other candidates also appear on Pittsburgh’s radar.
We’re talking about a group of top defensive minds: Carolina’s Ejiro Evero, Green Bay’s Jeff Hafley, the Chargers’ Jesse Minter, and Miami’s Anthony Weaver. All of them have either interviewed or been requested by both teams. If the Falcons go all-in on Stefanski, that’s one less team competing for those names - and it potentially frees up the interview schedule for Pittsburgh to move a little more freely.
Timing is a factor here. The Steelers are a bit behind in the coaching carousel, largely because they were the only team with a head coaching vacancy to make the playoffs this year. While other teams have already wrapped up their first round of interviews - and in some cases, are closing in on hires - the Steelers just got started with their process on Friday.
That delay means Pittsburgh’s search is happening in real time as other dominoes fall around the league. So while they’re not chasing Stefanski, his possible hire in Atlanta could provide some much-needed clarity - and maybe even a little breathing room - as the Steelers work through their own list of candidates.
In a hiring cycle where timing and availability are everything, every move counts. And if the Falcons take Stefanski off the board, the Steelers might just find the coaching landscape a little less crowded.