With Michael Penix Jr. rehabbing from season-ending knee surgery, and Kirk Cousins a question mark, the new head coach shares his evaluation of the position.
Tori McElhaney
ATLANTA If finding a head coach and general manager in 2026 was decision 1A for the Falcons in 2026,solidifying the state of the quarterback positionwas 1B. So, it made sense why one of the first questions Stefanski was asked in his introductory press conference at Mercedes-Benz Stadium early Tuesday afternoon was about his evaluation and outlook on the position.
Stefanski began his answer by saying Michael Penix Jr. is someone he is "very excited about." He added, though, that his rehab "is what's most important right now."
"I saw him in the training room this week," Stefanski said, "and as you can imagine he is attacking his rehab."
Penix underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL in November 2025. If all progresses well for Penix (and based on ACL recovery timelines), he could return to play anywhere from July to October which is 9-12 months post-surgery.
With the season beginning in September and a new head coach and coordinator coming in, that's a pretty significant time frame to work against. It's why the Falcons have to plan for a world in which Penix isn't the starter come Week 1. At this point, they cannot guarantee that will be the case.
Still, Stefanski expressed a clear intrigue about the player the Falcons took with the No. 8 overall pick in 2024.
"I think you see a player on tape who can get through progressions, can layer the ball, can push the ball to all areas of the field. Obviously, was very productive in college and has had some really, really good moments here in the pros," Stefanski said. "I see a young player who will continue to develop and continue to get better."
Stefanski referred to himself as a "maniac" about player development when referring to how he plans to get Penix but also the entire team ready to go in 2026
"I am crazy about the development of our players. We want to be a very intentional group when it comes to developing players, and obviously the quarterback position is at the forefront of that," Stefanski said. "I have been able to be exposed to other quarterbacks, whether its rookies, a 40-year-old Brett Favre, a 40-year-old Joe Flacco I have seen a bunch of different guys at that position and I think it is our job as coaches to put structure around them, to put a curriculum together in the offseason to get them up to speed in whatever areas, to give them very specific things that we are going to work on together so they can improve."
A player Stefanski has a deep history with is the man on the other side of the Falcons' quarterback coin, Kirk Cousins. Stefanski was Cousins' quarterbacks coach and coordinatorduring arguably Cousins' best years with the Minnesota Vikings.
The Falcons have a decision to make about Cousins in 2026.
Cousins and the organizationreportedly agreed to a contract restructure in early January. This adjustment did not impact any guaranteed money already owed to Cousins. His 2026 base salary was reduced from $35 million to $2.1 million. His 2027 compensation then gained that $32.9-million difference, creating a $67.9 million vesting guarantee for the 2027 season that would lock in March 13, the third day of the 2026 NFL league year.
According to OverTheCap.com, this decision dropped his cap number down to $24.6 million, meaning he takes up 8.3% of the Falcons' salary cap, as opposed to 14.1% pre-restructure.
Stefanski was asked about Cousins, and his potential future with the organization. He did not paint himself into a corner.
"When it comes to Kirk, obviously I have a previous relationship with him," Stefanski said. "But I don't know if it's the time yet to talk all positions, and those types of things, but those type of conversations will come in due time."
President of football Matt Ryan said the Falcons are still in themidst of their search for a general managerto partner with Stefanski. Once that individual is in place, Stefanski, Ryan and the soon-to-be named general manager will dive into the full evaluation of the current roster where the quarterback conversation moves from 1B to 1A.
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