FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons' newest head coach, Kevin Stefanski, has mentored a long list of successful players throughout his 20 seasons in the NFL. Their time spent with Stefanski varied. But he managed to get consistent production from many of those he worked with. Stefanski spent 14 years with the Minnesota Vikings and then six years with the Cleveland Browns.

Now, his foreseeable future will be in Atlanta.

Below are the notable players whom Stefanski has coached throughout his career:

Kirk Cousins, quarterback

Where and when: Vikings | 2018-19

• Stefanski was in his second season as the Vikings' quarterbacks coach when Cousins signed with the team as a free agent in 2018. Then, Stefanski was Cousins' offensive coordinator in 2019.

Most notable season: 2019

• Although Cousins personally had better numbers in 2018 compared to 2019 – a 70.1% completion rate, 4,298 passing yards and 30 touchdowns vs. a 69.1% completion rate, 3,603 passing yards and 26 touchdowns – he led the Vikings to a much better record in his second season, going from 8-7-1 to 10-5 with a playoff berth in 2019. The Vikings ultimately lost in the divisional round, which remains the furthest Cousins has advanced in the postseason. Cousins earned a Pro Bowl nomination that year, his first with the Vikings and second of his career to that point (he currently has four).

Where is he now: Falcons

• The reason Cousins is first on this list is that he's currently contracted by Stefanski's new team. Cousins signed a four-year deal in 2024 and has had an up-and-down experience in Atlanta since then. He began as the starter, but performance issues led to his benching in Week 16 of his first season. Then, in 2025, Cousins was the backup until Michael Penix Jr. was placed on season-ending injured reserve in Week 12 due to a knee injury that required surgery. Cousins started the remaining seven games, going 5-2 during that span and capping the season off with a four-game win streak. Whether Cousins will remain in Atlanta for 2026 remains to be determined, as the Falcons reportedly restructured his contract last week, but having Stefanski in the picture makes the decision much more interesting.

Baker Mayfield, quarterback

Where and when: Browns | 2020-21

• Mayfield had already been the Browns' quarterback for two seasons when Stefanski took over as head coach in 2020. Stefanski won The Associated Press' Coach of the Year award after his debut season in Cleveland, when he led the Browns to their first playoff appearance since 2002. Mayfield led the team to an 11-5 regular-season record and then went 1-1 in the postseason.

Most notable season: 2020

• After getting drafted with the No. 1 overall pick in 2018, Mayfield struggled to consistently win. As a rookie, he compiled a 6-7 record as the Browns' starter. They finished 7-8-1 overall with the help of Tyrod Taylor, who started the opening three games before Baker took over. Then, in his second season, Mayfield went 6-10. It wasn't until Stefanski arrived that his output improved to 11-5. In that year, Mayfield completed 62.8% of his passes for 3,563 yards and 36 touchdowns. He threw eight interceptions, which is still tied for a career-low count.

Where he is now: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Mayfield signed with the Buccaneers in 2023 after splitting the 2022 season between the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams. He has really found his footing in Tampa Bay, leading the Buccaneers to back-to-back playoff appearances upon his arrival. Last season, Mayfield and the Buccaneers looked like the favorite to win the NFC South for the fifth consecutive season, going 6-2 to start the season, but then a second-half slide of 2-7 led them to ultimately tie with the Panthers and Falcons for first in the division at 8-9. Carolina won due to the NFL's tiebreak rules. Mayfield has one more year on his contract with the Buccaneers.

Nick Chubb, running back

Where and when: Browns | 2020-24

• Chubb was drafted by the Browns with a second-round pick in 2018, so he had one season with the franchise prior to Stefanski's addition. Once Stefanski arrived, Chubb's production skyrocketed. Chubb went from 996 rushing yards to three consecutive seasons with more than 1,000. He was incorporated more into the passing game, as well, so his yards from scrimmage total went from 1,145 in 2018 to 1,772 in 2019. Chubb was around for both of Stefanski's AP Coach of the Year runs in 2020 and 2023. Chubb also earned Pro Bowl honors from 2019-22 and a second-team All-Pro nod in 2022.

Most notable season: 2022

• It was Chubbs' fourth season in a row with at least 1,000 rushing yards, and he set a career-high mark of 1,525, which was third-most in the league. He scored a career-high 13 touchdowns, too — 12 rushing and 1 receiving. Though not all of his numbers were career highs, they came close, such as the 1,764 yards from scrimmage being just 8 yards short. At this point, Chubb was showing year-over-year success as an all-around player. That's what led to his first All-Pro shoutout, even if it was second team.

Where he is now: Houston Texans

• Chubb just finished a one-year deal with the Texans after seven seasons with the Browns. He made the switch after a pair of down seasons. Chubb sustained a season-ending knee injury early in 2023, and it carried over a bit into 2024. He played in only 10 games between the two years. Last season, Chubb played in 15 games for the Texans, totaling 506 rushing yards among 573 yards from scrimmage. He scored three touchdowns on the ground.

Amari Cooper, wide receiver

Where and when: Browns | 2022-24

• Cooper joined the Browns in 2022 as Stefanski entered his third season as their head coach. Cleveland was Cooper's third team since getting drafted fourth overall in 2015. With the Browns, Cooper had back-to-back seasons with more than 1,000 yards receiving. He had five previously. In his first year with the Browns, Cooper scored a career-high nine touchdowns.

Most notable season: 2023

• Though the personal touchdown record was great in 2023, Cooper's 2024 was even better. He finished with a career-high 1,250 yards receiving, and that's even with missing two games because of a heel injury sustained late in the season. Immediately before that injury, in Week 16, Cooper broke the Browns’ single-game receiving yards record with 265 in their win against the Texans. That also tipped him over the 1,000-yard mark for the season, making him the first Browns player with back-to-back years of such. Cooper earned his fifth and final Pro Bowl honor that season.

Where he is now: Retired

• Cooper announced his retirement on Sept. 4, 2025, after 10 seasons in the NFL.

Adam Thielen, wide receiver

Where and when: Vikings | 2014-22

• The Vikings signed Thielen as an undrafted free agent in 2014, when Stefanski was the tight ends coach, and he blossomed into a 1,000-yard receiver. He posted 1,276 yards receiving in 2017 and 1,373 yards receiving in 2018. Although Stefanski was never Thielen's position coach, he did coach the quarterbacks during those two years, so the two basically go hand-in-hand. Thielen was the Vikings' primary target both seasons, and he was a Pro Bowler in each.

Most notable season: 2017

• It was the first year Thielen cracked 1,000 yards receiving. He came close in 2016 with 967, but it was in 2017 that he completed the task. Thielen not only got his first Pro Bowl nomination that year but was also was named to the All-Pro second team. Through 12 years, it is still his only season with an All-Pro accolade.

Where he is now: Retired

• Thielen split his 2025 season between the Vikings and Steelers. In 11 games with the Vikings, he tallied 69 yards receiving. Then, in five games with the Steelers, he totaled 117 yards receiving. After the season concluded, Thielen announced his retirement.

Honorable mentions:

Joe Flacco, quarterback: Flacco and Stefanski overlapped at the Browns twice, in 2023 and partially in 2025. Flacco was named Comeback Player of the Year in 2023. He threw for 1,616 yards and eight touchdowns in just five starts.

Dalvin Cook, running back: Cook and Stefanski spent the 2017-19 seasons together with the Vikings. Cook had his first 1,000-yard season in 2019, both in terms of yards rushing and yards from scrimmage. He totaled 1,135 and 1,654, respectively. Though Stefanski left, Cook went on to gain at least 1,000 yards in his next three seasons, making the Pro Bowl each time.

Stefon Diggs, wide receiver: Diggs and Stefanski were with the Vikings from 2015-19. Diggs had his first 1,000-yard season in 2018, which sparked a slew of six seasons in a row hitting that mark. Diggs switched to the Buffalo Bills in 2020, though.

Kyle Rudolph, tight end: Rudolph and Stefanski spent nine seasons together in Minnesota from 2011-19. Stefanski served as his position coach for two seasons from 2014-15. Rudolph was a Pro Bowler in 2012 and 2017.

Joel Bitonio, offensive guard: Bitonio and Stefanski were together at the Browns from 2020-25 after Stefanski joined. Bitonio has been in Cleveland since he was drafted in 2014. He made the Pro Bowl in seven consecutive seasons from 2018-24, also adding All-Pro first-team honors in 2021 and 2022 as well as All-Pro second-team honors from 2018-20.