FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons are once again in the midst of an offseason where the quarterback position is a central topic of conversation.

General manager Ian Cunningham announced at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine that veteran Kirk Cousins would be released at the start of the new league year, which would leave Michael Penix Jr. as the sole quarterback on Atlanta's roster. Penix began his second season as the Falcons' starting quarterback, but an ACL injury in Week 11 ended his year early and put his status for the start of 2026 in question.

Speaking with the media at the combine, Cunningham and head coach Kevin Stefanski did not make any firm declarations about the quarterback position, other than to say the primary focus for Penix should be to work his way back to full health.

"He's where he should be," Cunningham said. "I feel like he's doing a really good job, he's coming in every single day, he's doing what he needs to do, and we're confident that he's on track."

During his time as a coach with both the Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns, Stefanski has received praise for his work with quarterbacks. In 2017, his first year as Vikings quarterbacks coach, Stefanski helped Case Keenum put together a career season while leading Minnesota to the playoffs. He followed that up by working with Cousins, who threw 30 touchdown passes and only 10 interceptions in 2018.

Upon becoming the Browns' head coach in 2020, Stefanski helped Baker Mayfield achieve the first winning season of his career and lead Cleveland to the postseason for the first time since 2002. Then, in 2023, Stefanski again coached the Browns to an 11-6 record and another playoff berth despite five different quarterbacks starting games that season. His understanding of quarterbacks and ability to shape his offenses around each one's individual talents is considered a strength.

"Kevin Stefanski's offenses have been what they have been: Creating those passing opportunities but using that wide-zone-run-game aspect of it," Cleveland Browns associate editor and staff writer Kelsey Russo explained. "However, there was also an adaptability piece to it for whichever quarterback is out there. You have to use their skill sets and maximize their skill sets."

Penix was widely praised for his natural arm talent and presence of mind within the pocket throughout the pre-draft process, and he's put those traits on display in his 12 games as a starter during his first two seasons. NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah compared Penix’s ability to throw the ball to Joe Flacco in the days leading up to the draft, a player his new head coach has achieved success with. Flacco went 4-1 as a starter in Cleveland in 2023 after joining the team in Week 12 and won Comeback Player of the Year. Penix has some of the same high-quality skills for Stefanski to maximize.

Atlanta's new head coach was asked about developing young quarterbacks at the combine podium, and he emphasized the importance of surrounding them with a structure for success.

"As coaches and clubs, we want to do all that we can to insulate those players and put them in a system, put players around them to allow for development of young players," he said. "I think there's countless examples of players that maybe their development takes time.

"It could take seasons, and I think there's great examples of MVPs in this league where it didn't click right away for them. And just understanding that as part of the process. But I do think it takes a lot of people to set the course for those young players at that position because it's a hard position to play."

While speaking with the local media at the combine, Stefanski shared a similar message about employing a growth mindset and expressed how seriously he takes fostering development with each of his players. During her time covering Stefanski in Cleveland, Russo saw those words put into action.

"It was very individualized because players are individual people," Russo said. "They have different parts of their skill sets that are stronger, weaker, etc., that they need to address. And so that dedication to that aspect of meeting the player where they're at, looking at specific things in their game that they want to improve, being able to look at what's really strong in their game and being able to maximize that was something I think he was really good at and instilled in his staff as well."

When it comes to the quarterback room in Atlanta, Stefanski wants everyone to speak the exact same language. This helps prevent misunderstanding and clarifies the objective for a player. It also reinforces the terminology and philosophy of the Falcons' new offensive playbook.

Stefanski has familiarity with those who will be working most closely with Atlanta's quarterbacks, which is offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and position coach Alex Van Pelt. A former quarterback at Notre Dame, Rees joined the Browns staff in 2024 and has worked with Stefanski the past two seasons. Van Pelt played quarterback in the NFL for 10 seasons and was the Browns' offensive coordinator from 2020-23.

"When you're in that quarterback room, you want to make sure that the voice is singular," Stefanski said. "Even though it may be multiple people, the voice and what you're telling the player is singular. … That's part of the benefit of having Tommy Reese, having Alex Van Pelk, these are guys that I've coached with, guys that I believe what they believe. We're all speaking the same language."