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Kevin Stefanski

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Kevin Stefanski
Stefanski with the Cleveland Browns in 2023
Atlanta Falcons
TitleHead coach
Personal information
Born (1982-05-08) May 8, 1982 (age 43)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Listed height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Career information
High schoolSaint Joseph's (Philadelphia)
CollegePenn (2000–2004)
PositionDefensive back
Career history
Awards and highlights
As a head coach
Head coaching record
Regular season45–56 (.446)
Postseason1–2 (.333)
Career46–58 (.442)
Coaching profile at Pro Football Reference

Kevin Stefanski (/stəˈfɛnskiː/; born May 8, 1982) is an American professional football coach and former defensive back who is the head coach for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL).[1] He previously served as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns from 2020 to 2025. He played college football at Penn from 2000 to 2004.

Stefanski was born in Wayne, Pennsylvania. His father, Ed Stefanski, was a basketball player and executive. He attended high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at St. Joseph's Preparatory School, when his father was an executive for the New Jersey Nets. After graduation from high school in 2000, Stefanski enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania and played defensive back for the Quakers, starting for four seasons. As a redshirt junior in 2003, he helped lead Penn to their only undefeated Penn team of the decade and was an All-Ivy League selection in 2002.

He began his NFL career as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Vikings from 2006 to 2019 and was the offensive coordinator during his final two seasons.[2] Stefanski left Minnesota to become the Cleveland Browns' head coach in 2020, where he led the team to their first playoff appearance since 2002. He was named NFL Coach of the Year after the season, becoming the first Browns coach to receive the honor since 1976 and the first following the franchise's 1999 return as an expansion team. He led the Browns to a second playoff appearance in 2023, also winning NFL Coach of the Year for the second time. After an 8–26 record across the next two seasons, he was fired by the Browns in January 2026.

On January 17, 2026, Stefanski signed a five-year contract to become the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.

Early life and playing career

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Stefanski graduated from St. Joseph's Preparatory School in 2000 and the University of Pennsylvania in 2004. He played defensive back while at Penn, being named the Quakers Freshman of the Year in 2000. Stefanski was part of the only undefeated Penn team of the decade and was once an All-Ivy League selection.

Coaching career

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Minnesota Vikings

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Stefanski joined the Minnesota Vikings in 2006 as an assistant to then-head coach Brad Childress.[3] In 2009, he was promoted to assistant quarterbacks' coach, where he would serve until the 2013 season and had coached quarterbacks such as Brett Favre and Christian Ponder. Despite the Vikings' ups and downs during his tenure, Stefanski survived 3 coaching changes (Childress, Leslie Frazier, and Mike Zimmer).

In 2017, after Scott Turner was let go, Stefanski was promoted to coach the Vikings quarterbacks, where he helped transform the Vikings into the NFL's 10th-highest scoring offense. Quarterback Case Keenum had his best season under Stefanski, throwing 22 touchdown passes and only seven interceptions.[4] He previously worked with the running backs in 2016 and the tight ends in 2014 and 2015.

After the 2017 season, the New York Giants requested to interview and hire Stefanski as their new offensive coordinator, but the Vikings denied the request.[5]

After offensive coordinator John DeFilippo was fired following a 21–7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Stefanski was named interim offensive coordinator.[6] On January 9, 2019, Stefanski was promoted to full-time offensive coordinator.[7]

Cleveland Browns

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On January 13, 2020, Stefanski signed a five-year contract to become the 18th head coach of the Cleveland Browns, two days after the Minnesota Vikings lost in the NFC playoffs.[8] On September 13, 2020, Stefanski lost his head coaching debut to the Baltimore Ravens by a score of 38–6. The loss marked the 16th consecutive Week 1 without a win for the Browns.[9] On September 17, Stefanski recorded his first career win as a head coach in the 35–30 win against the Cincinnati Bengals.[10]

On December 6, Stefanski became the first Browns head coach since Romeo Crennel in 2007 to lead the franchise to a winning season, securing his ninth win with a 41–35 victory over the Tennessee Titans. Stefanski led the Browns to a 11–5 record, finishing third in the AFC North and clinching the Browns' first playoff berth since 2002. It was also the franchise's best record since their 1999 return.[11] However, Stefanski tested positive for COVID-19 on the Tuesday before the game,[12] preventing him from coaching the wild card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.[13] The Browns went on to defeat the Steelers 48–37, which was their first playoff win since 1994, as well as their first since their 1999 re-activation.[14] He returned to the team on January 14.[13] The Browns lost the following week to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round, 22–17. For his work during the 2020 season, Stefanski was named as the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year.[15] He was the first Browns coach to receive the honor since Forrest Gregg in 1976, in addition to being the first after Cleveland's return in 1999.

During the 2023 Browns season, Stefanski led the team to a second winning season (11–6) along with another playoff appearance becoming the first Browns head coach to lead the team to multiple postseason appearances since Marty Schottenheimer. He again was named Associated Press Coach of the Year.[16] The Browns saw their season end in the Wild Card Round with a 45–14 loss to the Houston Texans.[17]

On June 5, 2024, the Browns signed Stefanski to a contract extension.[18] The Browns faltered to a 3–14 record in the 2024 season.[19] They were marginally better the following season, finishing 5–12, before Stefanski was fired from his position as head coach on January 5, 2026.[20]

Atlanta Falcons

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On January 17, 2026, Stefanski was hired to become the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.[21] Two days later, it was announced that he would retain Jeff Ulbrich as his defensive coordinator at the recommendation of owner Arthur Blank.[22] On January 22, he hired Tommy Rees as his offensive coordinator, who previously worked for him the last two seasons during Stefanski's time with the Browns.[23]

Head coaching record

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Team Year Regular season Postseason
Won Lost Ties Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
CLE 2020 11 5 0 .688 3rd in AFC North 1 1 .500 Lost to Kansas City Chiefs in AFC Divisional Game
CLE 2021 8 9 0 .471 3rd in AFC North — — — —
CLE 2022 7 10 0 .438 4th in AFC North — — — —
CLE 2023 11 6 0 .647 2nd in AFC North 0 1 .000 Lost to Houston Texans in AFC Wild Card Game
CLE 2024 3 14 0 .176 4th in AFC North — — — —
CLE 2025 5 12 0 .294 4th in AFC North — — — —
CLE total 45 56 0 .446 1 2 .333
ATL 2026 0 0 0 – TBD in NFC South — — —
ATL total 0 0 0 – – – –
Total 45 56 0 .446 1 2 .333

Personal life

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Stefanski's wife, Michelle, is also from Philadelphia. They got married in 2007 and have three children: Will, Gabe, and Juliette.[24] Stefanski is the son of NBA executive Ed Stefanski.[25]

Stefanski is a devout Catholic.[26]

References

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  1. ^ Gribble, Andrew (January 13, 2020). "Kevin Stefanski named Browns head coach". ClevelandBrowns.com. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  2. ^ "Vikings Name Kevin Stefanski Offensive Coordinator". Vikings.com. January 9, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  3. ^ Grlbble, Andrew (January 10, 2020). "5 things to know about Kevin Stefanski". ClevelandBrowns.com. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  4. ^ "Case Keenum: Career Stats at NFL.com". NFL.com. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  5. ^ Raanan, Jordan (February 11, 2018). "Vikings nix Giants' request to interview, hire Kevin Stefanski for OC, source says". ESPN. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  6. ^ Patra, Kevin (December 11, 2018). "Vikings fire offensive coordinator John DeFilippo". NFL.com. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  7. ^ Broome, Anthony (January 9, 2019). "Vikings announce Kevin Stefanski as offensive coordinator". Minnesota Vikings. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  8. ^ Gribble, Andrew (January 13, 2020). "Kevin Stefanski named Browns head coach". www.clevelandbrowns.com. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  9. ^ Cabot, Mary Kay (September 13, 2020). "Browns get blown out by Ravens, 38–6, in Kevin Stefanski's head coaching debut". Cleveland.com.
  10. ^ Cabot, Mary Kay (September 18, 2020). "Kevin Stefanski praises Baker Mayfield's game vs. the Bengals, but wants him to protect the football". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  11. ^ "Cleveland Browns Team Records, Leaders, and League Ranks". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  12. ^ "Kevin Stefanski tests positive for COVID-19; Mike Priefer to serve as acting Head Coach". ClevelandBrowns.com. January 5, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  13. ^ a b Withers, Tom (January 14, 2021). "Stefanski out of basement, back with Browns after COVID-19". APNews.com. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  14. ^ "'Kansas City Here We Come': Fans, celebrities react to Cleveland Browns' playoff win over Pittsburgh Steelers". wkyc.com. January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  15. ^ Edholm, Eric (February 8, 2024). "Browns' Kevin Stefanski named AP 2023 NFL Coach of the Year". NFL.com. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  16. ^ Russo, Kelsey (February 8, 2024). "Kevin Stefanski named AP 2023 NFL Coach of the Year". ClevelandBrowns.com. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  17. ^ Rieken, Kristie (January 14, 2024). "Joe Flacco's incredible run in Cleveland ends as two pick-6's doom Browns in playoff loss to Texans". AP News. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  18. ^ Russo, Kelsey (June 5, 2024). "Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski sign contract extensions with the Browns". ClevelandBrowns.com. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  19. ^ Harris, Irie (January 5, 2025). "Kevin Stefanski on finishing 3-14, Ken Dorsey, Deshaun Watson: Transcript". cleveland. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  20. ^ Oyefusi, Daniel (January 5, 2026). "Browns fire coach Stefanski, will keep GM Berry". ESPN. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
  21. ^ "Atlanta Falcons name Kevin Stefanski head coach". Atlanta Falcons. January 17, 2026. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  22. ^ McElhaney, Tori (January 19, 2026). "Falcons retain Jeff Ulbrich as defensive coordinator". AtlantaFalcons.com. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  23. ^ Waack, Terrin (January 22, 2026). "Falcons hire Tommy Rees to be offensive coordinator". Atlanta Falcons. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  24. ^ Kundu, Tamal (December 3, 2024). "Who Is Kevin Stefanski's Wife? Michelle's Kids & Instagram". Yahoo Entertainment. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  25. ^ Young, Lindsey (June 19, 2017). "Father's NBA Success Inspired Kevin Stefanski to NFL Career". Vikings.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  26. ^ "May/June issue of Northeast Ohio Catholic magazine is on the way". Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. May 6, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
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