Kevin Stefanski, Bijan Robinson, and a new-look offense give the Falcons cautious optimism

With Kevin Stefanski taking over the helm of the Falcons and Kirk Cousins officially out of the picture, Michael Penix gets his first full campaign to prove he is Atlanta’s long-term answer.

When a franchise goes through coaching changes, high-stakes quarterback investments, and years of hovering around the middle of the pack, finding sustained stability becomes the top priority.

The Falcons finished their 2025 campaign with an 8–9 record, missing out on a postseason run after being caught in a tight, three-way split atop the division.

At their best, the offense ran through Bijan Robinson , who finally was unleashed a bit and put together an elite dual-threat season with over 2,000 scrimmage yards to keep Atlanta competitive week in and week out.

At their worst, a cloud of quarterback instability overshadowed the season.

Kirk Cousins began the year as the starter before losing the job, and just as Michael Penix Jr. began showing flashes of dynamic starter capability, a late-season injury sidelined him and forced Atlanta to shuffle back to Cousins.

The defense turned in gritty performances early, but secondary depth issues and late-game stalls cost them crucial divisional matchups.

ATLANTA FALCONS 2026 BETTING PREVIEW: LIMITED UPGRADES HAS NEW HEAD COACH KEVIN STEFANSKI FACING A STEEP CLIMB To reset the culture and offensive structure, Atlanta made a splash by bringing in former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski.

The front office then signaled a full pivot to the future by cutting Kirk Cousins with a post-June 1 designation in March, officially turning the keys over to Penix.

RAIDERS NEW HEAD COACH KLINT KUBIAK NAMES KIRK COUSINS STARTING QB OVER NO.

1 PICK FERNANDO MENDOZA To reinforce the roster, Atlanta brought in veteran presence across the board.

They added Tua Tagovailoa as high-end quarterback insurance, signed running back Brian Robinson Jr. to partner with Bijan out of the backfield, and added pass-catching depth with wide receivers Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus alongside veteran tight end Austin Hooper .

On defense, the Falcons signed pass rushers Samson Ebukam and Azeez Ojulari while acquiring safety Sydney Brown via trade.

Major departures included releasing Cousins, parting ways with linebackers Troy Andersen and Kaden Elliss, and seeing veteran safety Justin Simmons head into retirement.