In any case, according to insider Will Fadden, the coach stated that Penix is “right where he needs to be” in his recovery. This is extremely positive for the team.

At a time when teams are starting to reveal their first moves, the battle for the QB1 spot in Atlanta is still uncertain. So far, everything indicates that Tua might be the starter, although there is still plenty of time before the season begins.

What injury did Penix Jr. suffer?

Michael Penix Jr. is currently recovering from a partially torn ACL in his left knee suffered during Week 11 of the 2025 NFL season against the Carolina Panthers. This latest injury is particularly significant because it is the third ACL tear of his career and his first major injury at the professional level.

Bijan Robinson is ready for his QBs

Even amid the uncertainty about who will start as the Falcons’ quarterback, the rest of the players must adapt quickly. Bijan Robinson made it clear that he will give his all for his team.

“Like I say every year, I am just trying to be better than the last year, in all aspects of my game,” Robinson said via the team’s website. “My leadership, my faith, everything, who I am as a person. I am just trying to be a lot better than I was the year before, even when it comes to my goals on the field, off the field.”

Falcons are already thinking about the Draft

Kevin Stefanski’s Falcons will be absent from the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft due to a major trade made during the previous year’s event. In a move to bolster their pass rush, the front office traded their 2026 first-round pick to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for the opportunity to move up and select edge rusher James Pearce Jr.

This gamble has left the team with limited draft capital this year, forcing the Falcons current management make an aggressive strategy to navigate the roster-building process without a Day 1 selection:

• 2nd round: Pick 48
• 3rd round: Pick 79
• 4th round: Pick 122
• 6th round: Pick 215
• 7th round: Pick 231

“Tua was a good fit for us,” the head coach said while speaking to NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo. “I think the football fit, the personal fit, I think he’s looking for a place where he can go and compete for a starting job, and that’s what we are offering to him.

“I think he’s somebody that has always competed in career, look back at his time at Alabama, so him coming in, and he wants to do what’s best for this football team, we’re excited to have him.”

The internal competition currently centers around Michael Penix Jr., who is still recovering from a serious injury. Will Tua ultimately be Kevin Stefanski’s choice as the starter?

Tua aims to prove he’s still got it

Tua Tagovailoa’s final stretch in South Beach was far from productive. In fact, in the Miami Dolphins’ latest outings, the decision to bench him was a clear indication that his performance fell short of expectations.

His 15 interceptions in the last season undoubtedly carried more weight than his 20 touchdowns or 2,660 yards. Now, it’s time for the quarterback to redeem himself, start from scratch, and show the Atlanta Falcons why he was brought in.

When will Michael Penix Jr. return to the field?

Following his season-ending injury in November 2025, and his third career ACL surgery, Michael Penix Jr. is expected to be medically cleared by April 2026 and aims to return to the field at some point during training camp this summer.

Appearing on the Downs 2 Business podcast, Browns running back Quinshon Judkins spoke on the difference between both coaches. “It’s not what I thought it would have been, I say that in a good way… I thought he was going to be like, more so like — because my past coach [Kevin Stefanski], he was like really even-keeled, like super quiet. I thought I was going to get that from Coach Monken, but it wasn’t that. Like, he was like a real player’s coach. Like, you know, like, ‘Give me a hug,’ like all that.”

Then, Judkins then said, “…So he was just super communicative of what he wanted from the team, what his goal is, what his objective is, what he wants to come in and do… He has a vision. And I think that’s what’s important as a head coach, and especially being vocal about it, too. I think that’s what matters.”

Stefanski has his own culture-setting period in Atlanta

While Stefanski is catching strays, the fact is he needs to be focusing on galvanizing his new players on the Falcons. The team needs to settle on its quarterback situation. The Browns also have Shedeur Sanders in uncertainty, but the Falcons are facing the a similar situation with Michael Penix Jr.

Now, Stefanski has quite a lot of talent to work with besides the QB. The Browns are not as stacked. Overall, the coach should be ecstatic of having that much talent to his disposal, something he didn’t have much on the Browns.

Judkins himself needs to work on bouncing back

While Judkins is out there appearing on podcasts, his main goal is to go back to top form. In 14 games during his rookie year, Judkins racked up 256 touches and 998 scrimmage yards. He was balling out before suffering a gruesome leg injury.

While it’s true that the team’s overall results fell short of expectations in the Dawg Pound, what truly mattered was the valuable game experience the young quarterback gained down the stretch of the season.

During a recent interview on the latest episode of Pardon My Take, the now-head coach in Atlanta spoke about what it meant to have Shedeur as QB1 with the Browns, and the pleasure that experience represented for him.

“I will say this: I love Shedeur. I loved coaching him, seriously. He’s got the right makeup for this game, he was wired the right way. I wish that we won more, obviously, but if you saw how he played down the stretch, I mean, he’s a young player that’s getting better. I’m not coaching him anymore, so I know I have to be careful about talking about other players, but I am rooting for him.”

Will Shedeur remain QB1 with the Browns?

A new NFL season is right around the corner, and the Cleveland Browns are among the teams expected to make a strong push to enter the AFC North title race. The question many are asking right now is whether Todd Monken will ultimately bet on Shedeur’s talent to lead this team.

Cleveland has several options on the table to add a new quarterback to its roster. In fact, Carson Beck even sent a warning to Sanders about the possibility of being selected in the upcoming Draft.

Even with plenty of time ahead, both the front office and the new coaching staff are carefully analyzing the next steps. As of now, Shedeur appears to be the leading candidate to start, though he can’t rest on his laurels—Dillon Gabriel is right behind him, and his spot could also be at risk with the arrival of another quarterback to the team.

Despite the reports that the Falcons will release Kirk Cousins, that doesn’t mean Michael Penix Jr. will just be handed the QB1 role of the Falcons. Per Ryan, “Quarterback’s obviously very important and we’re excited about Mike and what he’s doing with his rehab. I’ve been up at the facility the last three weeks, and Michael’s been in there attacking that and he’s in a good space right now, so we’re excited about where he is at. But certainly, a lot of discussions for us about the entire roster.”

So, what at first looked like an endorsement from Ryan, then ended with a concerning quote. While Penix was a first-round pick two years ago, he hasn’t been able to live up to the hype, and then suffered a gruesome knee injury.

Stefanski has always worked with QBs under duress

Stefanski went from Baker Mayfield to Deshaun Watson to Shedeur Sanders, among many other quarterbacks, during his time as HC of the Browns. Hence, he knows how to make the most of not great quarterbacks. He got Deshaun Watson post his prime, and Baker Mayfield before his prime. Still, he had the Browns in the playoffs twice, and won Coach of the Year twice despite all of that.

Therefore, it’s likely Stefanski would try to work with Penix. However, given Penix’s injury history, one might assume the Falcons would try to get someone to compete with him, or be able to carry the team if Penix can’t regain either his fitness or his form.

The Falcons have the talent to become a big-time offense

The Falcons have four skill players drafted in the first round in Penix, wide receiver Drake London, tight end Kyle Pitts, and running back Bijan Robinson. London, Pitts, and Robinson are regarded as generational talents, and the offensive line is also good. Hence, there is no reason why this team has struggled that much.

Stefanski loves a scheme where he commands a wide-zone running game with heavy play-action usage. He developed that under Gary Kubiak and is also influenced by the Shanahan’s. This scheme actually should help the Falcons players to maximize their output.

According to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, who reported the news on X, the Falcons have hired Alex Van Pelt as their new quarterbacks coach. This won’t be the first time Van Pelt and Stefanski work together within the same franchise.

What’s the story behind it? Van Pelt served as the Browns’ offensive coordinator under Kevin Stefanski from 2020 to 2023, a stretch in which the team made significant noise during several of its campaigns in the AFC North.

Now in the NFC, the two will work together once again—this time with a different level of experience. The expectation is that the Falcons will be able to fully unlock the potential of Michael Penix Jr. and the rest of their offense.

Putting the Falcons back in the spotlight

The arrival of Kevin Stefanski as the new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons marks a definitive push to restore the franchise to elite status, with the immediate goal of reclaiming the NFC South crown.

Tasked by President of Football Matt Ryan to instill a culture of toughness and accountability, Stefanski aims to transform a roster that finished 2025 with an 8-9 record into a legitimate postseason contender.

However, his path to a quick turnaround faces a significant hurdle: the Falcons enter the 2026 offseason without a first-round draft pick, having traded it to the Los Angeles Rams last year in a deal to move up for pass rusher James Pearce Jr.

Without a top selection to land a blue-chip prospect, Stefanski must rely on his proven ability to maximize existing talent—specifically developing Michael Penix Jr. and optimizing playmakers like Bijan Robinson—to navigate a wide-open division and put Atlanta back on the NFL map.

Despite this, Stefanski holds a special fondness for these two players, who saw playing time during their rookie season. During a recent appearance on the Dan Patrick Show, the head coach reflected on his time with Sanders and Gabriel.

“Those two young players, I loved those guys. I loved coaching them. I loved their development. As a coach, why we do this is you take a player and you try to get a little more out of them. You try to develop them. I want to get this guy better at that,” Stefanski said.

“Both those guys you can point to their rookie seasons and say man they got better in these areas. Ultimately, we want to continue to improve those guys and both of them will. I think very highly of those two young men.”

A new era in Cleveland

The Cleveland Browns have officially entered a new era by hiring Todd Monken as their head coach, a move that signals a major shift toward an aggressive, pass-heavy offense. Monken, who previously led high-powered units in Georgia and Baltimore, now faces the critical task of stabilizing a quarterback room that has seen constant turnover.

While Shedeur Sanders finished the 2025 season as the starter—recording 1,400 passing yards, 7 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions across 8 games—his status as QB1 for 2026 remains a subject of intense debate. Although Monken shared a viral moment with Sanders upon his arrival, admitting he had “tried to draft him” while with the Ravens, the front office has yet to officially commit.

With a 68.1 passer rating in his rookie campaign, Sanders will likely have to compete in training camp against potential veteran additions or high-draft picks to prove he is the long-term answer for Monken’s system.

The Browns continue their search for a head coach with reports suggesting they favor the signing of the youngest head coach in NFL history. Boasting a quarterback room filled with as many questions as concerns, Cleveland presents a tricky scenario for any coach brave enough to take over the reins.

As if waving goodbye to his former head coach Stefanski—the only one he’s had in the NFL so far—wasn’t enough, Sanders will now bid farewell to his offensive coordinator as well. For a young talent like Sanders, who had been coached by his father, Deion Sanders, for most of his career, having as many head coaches and offensive coordinators in as many seasons in the league is less than ideal.

“The Falcons are expected to hire former Browns OC Tommy Rees as the new OC for coach Kevin Stefanski,” NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported on his X account. Rees had been in Cleveland since the 2024 season.

Sanders and Rees’ journey together

Rees was promoted to offensive coordinator ahead of the 2025 NFL season. Previously, he had joined the franchise as the pass-game specialist and tight ends coach.

Despite the promotion, Rees wasn’t given play-calling duties until Week 10 of last season, just before Sanders made his first career appearance. In Week 11, Sanders saw action against the Baltimore Ravens. Replacing Dillon Gabriel, Sanders took over as Cleveland’s QB1, with Rees calling the plays from the booth.

As a result, in 2026 Sanders will not only be under the guidance of a new head coach, but he will also receive plays and feedback from a mentor other than Rees—assuming he emerges from Browns training camp as the starting quarterback.

And from here on out, we’re set to witness a compelling matchup that has already started to heat up well before the preseason even begins. What’s the story behind it? The NFC South will bring together two familiar faces, as Stefanski is set to square off against Baker Mayfield — a quarterback who doesn’t exactly hold fond memories of his former head coach.

That tension was clearly reflected in the Buccaneers QB’s response to a post from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s D. Orlando Ledbetter, in which the reporter claimed that Stefanski “had a dumpster fire at quarterback in Cleveland,” with Baker Mayfield and Deshaun Watson having both “failed.”

“Failed is quite the reach pal,” Mayfield didn’t hold back in his response. “Still waiting on a text/call from him after I got shipped off like a piece of garbage. Can’t wait to see you twice a year, Coach.“

Mayfield’s tenure in Cleveland

Baker Mayfield’s tenure with the Cleveland Browns was a rollercoaster of high expectations and ultimate friction. After arriving as the 2018 top pick and setting a rookie record for passing touchdowns, Mayfield initially thrived despite a revolving door of coaching changes.

The arrival of Kevin Stefanski in 2020 seemed to be the missing piece, as the duo led Cleveland to a historic playoff run. However, the relationship soon soured; the rigid structure of Stefanski’s system never quite meshed with Mayfield’s playstyle.

By 2021, a severe labrum injury further strained the partnership, leading to a breakdown in communication and performance that eventually forced the franchise to trade its former cornerstone to the Carolina Panthers.

Falcons and Bucs will go head-to-head

The upcoming 2026 NFC South race will be defined by two pivotal clashes between the Atlanta Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While the official NFL schedule is still pending, it is confirmed that the rivalry will split between the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

These matchups carry extra weight this year due to the spicy reunion between Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and his former Browns coach, Kevin Stefanski, who is now leading the Falcons.

The NFL is set to look very different in 2026. Several franchises will have new head coaches, creating a ripple effect across the league and opening vacancies that few expected just weeks ago.

After the Ravens parted ways with John Harbaugh, the Giants acted swiftly and offered him a lucrative contract. New York had initially shown interest in Kevin Stefanski, but with Harbaugh now in place, the former Cleveland Browns head coach has become a top target for another NFC team.

Report: Falcons emerge as strong favorites to hire Kevin Stefanski

According to NFL Media, Kevin Stefanski is now the leading candidate to become the Atlanta Falcons’ next head coach for the 2026 season. Adam Schefter also reported that the Falcons are scheduled to bring Stefanski in for a second interview, significantly increasing his chances of landing the job.

Stefanski is currently the first candidate to receive a second interview in Atlanta’s head coaching search. The Falcons view him as a proven offensive mind capable of elevating the team’s attack to another level.

Atlanta’s starting quarterback is Michael Penix Jr., a dual-threat signal-caller whose skill set could benefit greatly from an offensive-minded head coach like Stefanski. The organization appears to believe that coaching stability is the missing piece preventing the Falcons from taking the next step.

Michael Penix Jr. still searching for consistency

The Falcons selected Michael Penix Jr. with the 8th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, despite signing Kirk Cousins earlier that offseason. He was viewed as the franchise quarterback of the future, but those expectations have yet to be fully realized.

Penix Jr. has struggled to stay healthy through his first two NFL seasons. While his talent is evident when he is on the field, availability remains a concern. For any team, sustained success depends on having a quarterback who can consistently stay healthy, regardless of raw ability.

According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns will interview defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz for the second time for their HC vacancy. Schwartz has become one of the best DC in the NFL, guiding the Browns to have a top-tier defensive unit despite the team’s struggles.

However, according to Cabot, Ravens OC Todd Monken is also expected to get a second interview. Schwartz, though, has the full support of his team. “I have so much love and respect for Coach Schwartz,” Denzel Ward said. “Me, I would highly recommend Coach Schwartz for a head coaching job here, definitely. He’s a great coach. He’s helped my game tremendously, puts us in great positions, great leader. I can’t say enough great things about him, I think he’s a guy that who you want in a coach.”

Schwartz has a cloudy past as HC

While everybody deserves a second chance, it’s tough to deny his past tenure as head coach isn’t the best. Schwartz coached the Lions from 2009 to 2013 and his record was 29-51. He only had one winning season during his five-year tenure.

After that, he was DC in Buffalo for a year, before having a five-year spell in the Eagles as DC, where he won the Super Bowl. In 2021 and 2022, he was a senior defensive assistant for the Titans. It was after that when he landed as the Browns DC.

Is Schwartz the best option for Shedeur Sanders?

Having Shedeur Sanders in his second year is a crucial element to the future of the franchise. In fact, they interviewed an offensive-minded coach who might be the ideal replacement for Kevin Stefanski, though they have competition for hi services.

While Schwartz already knows Sanders and the rest of the team, the fact is he is a defensive-minded coach. So, if Schwartz gets the head coaching job, he would have to find a creative offensive coordinator to help Shedeur.