The second major move of the 2026 NFL coaching carousel came Saturday night, as the Atlanta Falcons officially hired Kevin Stefanski to be their next head coach. The former Browns coach steps in to replace Raheem Morris, who was let go after two seasons in Atlanta. Stefanski joins John Harbaugh-now leading the New York Giants-as one of the first two hires of this offseason's coaching cycle.
But Stefanski’s arrival in Atlanta doesn’t just impact the Falcons. It could have ripple effects in Washington, where the Commanders are deep into their own coaching staff overhaul under new head coach Dan Quinn.
One of the key names on Washington’s radar is Jeff Ulbrich, Atlanta’s current defensive coordinator. Ulbrich has a long-standing relationship with Quinn, dating back to their time together with the Jets and Falcons, and he’s considered a strong candidate to fill the Commanders’ defensive coordinator role. Before Stefanski was hired, Ulbrich's future in Atlanta was left deliberately open-Falcons owner Arthur Blank reportedly wanted the new head coach to make the call on whether to retain him.
Now that Stefanski is in place, all eyes are on whether he’ll keep Ulbrich in Atlanta or look to bring in someone like Jim Schwartz, who coordinated Stefanski’s defense in Cleveland. Schwartz, however, is also a top candidate to replace Stefanski as the Browns’ head coach, so his availability is far from certain. That potentially clears the path for Ulbrich to stay in Atlanta.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Stefanski is “likely” to retain Ulbrich, which could be viewed as both a setback and a blessing for Washington. On one hand, it may take Ulbrich off the board. On the other, it brings some clarity to the Commanders’ search and allows them to accelerate the process of replacing Joe Whitt Jr., who was recently let go.
But the Stefanski hire doesn’t just affect Washington on the defensive side of the ball. The Commanders are also in the market for an offensive line coach after parting ways with Bobby Johnson, along with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. They’ve already promoted 30-year-old David Blough-formerly an assistant quarterbacks coach-to OC, but the offensive line position remains unfilled.
That’s where things get interesting again.
Atlanta happens to have one of the league’s most respected offensive line coaches in Dwayne Ledford. Reports suggest Ledford would prefer to stay with the Falcons, but Stefanski has a strong working relationship with veteran line coach Bill Callahan, who’s currently available. If Stefanski brings Callahan aboard, that could open the door for Ledford to explore other opportunities.
And if he does, Washington should be all over it.
Ledford would be a huge get for a young, first-time coordinator like Blough. The Commanders already have a talented offensive line group, and adding a coach of Ledford’s caliber would provide much-needed stability and guidance. Of course, other teams will be in the mix too-Ledford won’t come cheap-but for Washington, it’s an investment worth making.
There’s another layer here: Washington is reportedly looking to shift to a zone-blocking scheme on offense. That just happens to be Ledford’s specialty, making him an even better fit for what the Commanders want to build.
So while Stefanski’s hiring is a big moment for Atlanta, it’s also a domino that could help Washington gain clarity-and maybe even opportunity-as they work to finalize their coaching staff. Whether it’s Ulbrich, Ledford, or another top assistant, the Commanders are watching closely. And with key decisions looming, the next few days could go a long way in shaping what Dan Quinn’s staff looks like in Year One.