The Atlanta Falcons are utilizing an early start to their offseason program to lay a foundation for the 2026 season, as players and coaches adjust to new head coach Kevin Stefanski’s system, according to a May 22 report. With league rules allowing teams with first-year head coaches an earlier start, the Falcons began focusing on player technique and building fundamental habits in Flowery Branch, Georgia.
Stefanski said, “This is the time of the year where you’re going to make a mistake and then we’re going to learn from it. We’re going to identify the reasons that it was made and we’re going to correct them. So, I think you’re seeing from the, certainly the veterans that have been around, you’re seeing them continue to get better in each rep, get better in each practice.”
Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. highlighted efforts toward team cohesion: “For us to go out there on the field and have the same mindset and have the same understanding of what’s going on around us, it’s only going to help us be better. It’s been really good.” Penix also addressed adapting terminology under new leadership: “For us, it’s like everything from last year is flushed. So, I can’t come and ask coach, ‘Hey, what is this route,’ and call it a route from last year whenever I’m in a new system.”
Stefanski explained adjustments at key positions such as quarterback: “We coach so much on the footwork… Having said that, there are subtle quarter-turn adjustments that I think you can make with technique…” Penix described his own adaptation process: “That’s what we start off with every day… just getting away from the center on your drop.”
Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees commented on staying current with football trends: “Everything in football is trends… you want to be on the forefront of that.” Rees added about progress so far: “There’s a lot of buy-in amongst the players and staff… Our focus really offseason-wise is like fundamentals, technique…”
The Atlanta Falcons compete in the National Football League’s NFC South division as an expansion team established in 1965; they are based in Atlanta and have advanced twice to Super Bowl appearances—in 1998 and 2016—according to their official website.
