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By Owen Hillman
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The Atlanta Falcons hired former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski as their head coach, and now a familiar face could be joining him as the team’s offensive coordinator. Former Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees is expected be the Falcons’ new OC, according to Ian Rapoport.
Rees was the favorite all along. The former Notre Dame quarterback worked under Stefanski for two years with the Browns. In 2024, he was hired as the pass-game specialist and tight ends coach, and in 2025, he was promoted to offensive coordinator. Now, he heads to Atlanta as offensive coordinator again.
The Browns scoring offense was ranked 31st in the NFL, averaging just 16.4 points per game, with the total offense ranking 30th (262.1 yards per game). Part of that was due to the Browns' quandary at quarterback.
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At one point, they had six different quarterbacks on their roster: 2025 draft picks Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, Deshaun Watson, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Tyler Huntley. Sanders, Gabriel, and Flacco started games, with Watson rehabbing an ACL injury, but safe to say, the Browns didn’t have the guy at quarterback.
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With Atlanta, Rees and Stefanski will be looking to revitalize the career of left-handed quarterback Michael Penix. He was selected eighth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft for his deep-ball accuracy, but after showing glimpses of potential in 2024, 2025 was a trying year.
He completed just 60.1% of his throws for 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions, leading the league in lowest interception percentage (1.1%). Penix also suffered his third career ACL injury in the Falcons’ 30-27 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 11.
There’s still concern with Penix’s injury history, but whoever the Falcon’s quarterback is to start the season, the Falcons have some intriguing pieces on offense. Running back Bijan Robinson was a first-team All-Pro in 2025, wide receiver Drake London has had over 900 receiving yards each of the last three years, and tight end Kyle Pitts broke out, leading the Falcons in receiving yards (928).
The Falcons offensive line will be looking for a bounce back year under new offensive line coach Bill Callahan, but Stefanski was looking for continuity to revitalize the Falcons’ offense, and what better than the offensive coordinator of his former team in Cleveland.
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