The Atlanta Falcons are focusing on a unified approach to quarterback development as they head into the 2026 NFL season. General manager Ian Cunningham announced at the NFL Scouting Combine that veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins will be released at the start of the new league year, leaving Michael Penix Jr. as the only quarterback on the roster. Penix is recovering from an ACL injury sustained in Week 11 and his availability for the start of next season remains uncertain.
Cunningham commented on Penix’s recovery, stating, “He’s where he should be. I feel like he’s doing a really good job, he’s coming in every single day, he’s doing what he needs to do, and we’re confident that he’s on track.”
Head coach Kevin Stefanski has a history of working with quarterbacks during his time with both the Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns. In 2017, Stefanski helped Case Keenum lead Minnesota to the playoffs and later worked with Cousins, who threw 30 touchdown passes in 2018. As head coach of the Browns starting in 2020, Stefanski guided Baker Mayfield to his first winning season and led Cleveland to its first postseason appearance since 2002. In 2023, despite using five different starting quarterbacks due to injuries, Stefanski coached Cleveland to an 11-6 record and another playoff berth.
Kelsey Russo, associate editor and staff writer for the Cleveland Browns, described Stefanski’s offensive philosophy: “Kevin Stefanski’s offenses have been what they have been: Creating those passing opportunities but using that wide-zone-run-game aspect of it. However, there was also an adaptability piece to it for whichever quarterback is out there. You have to use their skill sets and maximize their skill sets.”
Penix has been noted for his arm talent and poise in the pocket over his first two seasons as a starter. NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah compared Penix’s throwing ability to Joe Flacco—a player who found success under Stefanski’s coaching when Flacco joined Cleveland midseason in 2023.
At the combine podium, Stefanski addressed how young quarterbacks develop within an organization: “As coaches and clubs, we want to do all that we can to insulate those players and put them in a system, put players around them to allow for development of young players,” he said. “I think there’s countless examples of players that maybe their development takes time.
“It could take seasons, and I think there’s great examples of MVPs in this league where it didn’t click right away for them. And just understanding that as part of the process. But I do think it takes a lot of people to set the course for those young players at that position because it’s a hard position to play.”
Stefanski emphasized individualized development during media sessions: “It was very individualized because players are individual people,” Russo said about her observations covering Stefanski in Cleveland. “They have different parts of their skill sets that are stronger, weaker… And so that dedication… looking at specific things in their game that they want to improve… being able to look at what’s really strong in their game and being able to maximize that was something I think he was really good at and instilled in his staff as well.”
For Atlanta’s quarterback room moving forward—now led by offensive coordinator Tommy Rees (who joined from Notre Dame via Cleveland) and position coach Alex Van Pelt (a former NFL quarterback himself)—Stefanski stressed clarity: “When you’re in that quarterback room, you want to make sure that the voice is singular,” he said. “Even though it may be multiple people, the voice and what you’re telling the player is singular… That’s part of the benefit of having Tommy Reese [and] Alex Van Pelk; these are guys that I’ve coached with… We’re all speaking the same language.”
The Atlanta Falcons compete in the NFL’s NFC South division since joining as an expansion team in 1965 based out of Atlanta, Georgia. The franchise reached the Super Bowl twice, appearing most recently in 2016.
