The Atlanta Falcons will be entering a new era under head coach Kevin Stefanski in 2026, alongside general manager Ian Cunningham and president of football Matt Ryan. The question is how quickly results will follow—namely, winning games.
Atlanta has now gone eight straight seasons without a playoff berth. To make matters worse, the team hasn’t been outright bad for most of that stretch. The Falcons have won between seven and eight games in seven of those eight seasons. Their 4-12 finish in 2020 remains their worst mark since 2013.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox believes a different kind of season could be on the horizon in 2026—one that could ultimately position the Falcons for a top pick in 2027.
Falcons’ Quarterback Uncertainty Could Shape 2026 Outcome
Knox listed Atlanta as one of his team’s that could tank in 2026. However, he made it clear that it doesn’t seem they are intentionally trying to bottom out.
“To be clear, the Atlanta Falcons aren’t operating like a team that plans to tank in 2027—and they shouldn’t be,” Knox wrote.
Still, the Falcons find themselves in a familiar situation. This marks the fourth coaching staff in seven years, and while the roster is talented enough—especially in the NFC South—to compete, the biggest issue remains unchanged: Quarterback.
“If the Falcons can get above-average quarterback play, they’re more likely to be in the playoff mix than the race for a top draft choice,” Knox wrote. “After all, we’re talking about a team that finished with an 8-9 record in 2025, just like the NFC South-winning Carolina Panthers.”
“The problem is that Atlanta isn’t guaranteed to get reliable quarterback play. Kirk Cousins is now with the Raiders, Tagovailoa hasn’t played particularly well since the 2023 season, and 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. is coming off a torn ACL.”
That uncertainty puts the Falcons in a difficult position heading into 2026. They have enough talent to compete—but not necessarily the stability under center to sustain it.
Falcons Could Eye Loaded 2027 QB Class If Struggles Continue
For now, Atlanta appears to be in a wait-and-see mode at quarterback.
Stefanski and Cunningham would likely prefer to identify their long-term answer themselves, but they wouldn’t complain if either Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix Jr. steps up and takes control of the job.
If that doesn’t happen, though, the timing could be significant.
The 2027 quarterback class is expected to be loaded with high-end talent, which could influence how the Falcons approach the position moving forward.
“The Falcons were just 3-6 with Penix as the starter last season,” Knox wrote. “If they have a similar start in 2026, there’s a real chance they could end their QB experiments and try to land a prospect like LaNorris Sellers, USC’s Jayden Maiava, or Notre Dame’s C.J. Carr inside the top 10.”
Other names expected to be in the mix include Miami’s Darian Mensah, Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker and Texas’ Arch Manning.
Nobody understands the difficulty of finding a franchise quarterback better than Stefanski, dating back to his time with the Cleveland Browns. His tenure there was defined by instability at the position, from dealing with Deshaun Watson’s injuries and suspensions to patchwork solutions with veteran free agents and failed draft picks.
That experience now follows him to Atlanta.
The 2026 Falcons roster has the potential to be one of the more talented teams Stefanski has coached. But it also presents a familiar challenge—one that has defined much of his career.
Quarterback remains the biggest question mark.
And if that question isn’t answered this season, Atlanta could be looking at a very different path forward—one that includes a top pick and another swing at finding the face of the franchise.
Falcons Put On Tank Notice as Michael Penix Jr., Tua Tagovailoa Concerns Mount