NFL coaching hire grades: Falcons make splash with Stefanski

Dan Wilkins, theScore's senior NFL writer, breaks down every head coaching hire made throughout this year's cycle. Check back for updates.

This is a big get for the Falcons. I understand why fans are often opposed to hiring a retread, and it can be an even more difficult sell when the coach in question was fired after going 8-26 over his last two seasons. But context is required here.

Stefanski looked like a rising star over his first four seasons in Cleveland, posting a 37-30 record and earning Coach of the Year honors twice. The pair of 11-win campaigns made him the first Browns coach since Marty Schottenheimer in 1988 to lead the club to multiple playoff appearances. Considering the dysfunction that's run rampant in that organization over the last few decades, it was quite the accomplishment.

While Stefanski isn't blameless for the team's struggles over the last two seasons, he didn't exactly have much help. The Deshaun Watson debacle - the worst trade and contract in NFL history - had devastating effects on Cleveland's roster. Last year's draft was the first time the Browns had a first-round pick since 2021, and it'll still be another year before Watson's fully guaranteed $230-million deal is off the books. The spectacular swing and miss, with Watson never once delivering starting-caliber quarterback play, likely would have dragged any coach down.

With that in mind, Stefanski was probably relieved to be moving on from Cleveland. Now, he's pivoting to an enticing opportunity in Atlanta. Although the Falcons face questions at quarterback - Michael Penix Jr. has yet to establish himself as a franchise-caliber player and is recovering from ACL surgery - the rest of the roster offers an opportunity to compete in the wide-open NFC South.

Stefanski's offense can provide an excellent ecosystem to get Penix's development on track when healthy. His ability to scheme up the run game promises to make the most of Bijan Robinson's All-Pro talent, and how he builds the passing attack off that foundation should maximize Drake London and Kyle Pitts (if re-signed) to a level the previous staff couldn't quite muster. And with Jeff Ulbrich reportedly likely to stick around as defensive coordinator, the Falcons can continue to build on the breakthrough his unit enjoyed in 2025.

I could be underestimating the hand Stefanski had in the Browns' recent struggles. If that's the case, perhaps Atlanta will only continue to toil in mediocrity. But I'm inclined to believe that Stefanski's offensive acumen and brief run of success in a challenging environment suggest he'll produce far better results when afforded some semblance of stability.

Stefanski could quickly prove to be one of the better hires of this cycle.

Grade: B+

That didn't take long. The Giants landed the first in-person interview with John Harbaugh following his departure from the Ravens. And while the initial meeting appeared to end without a deal, the organization evidently deployed a full-court press to make sure no other teams could swoop in. Harbaugh had been scheduled to speak with the Tennessee Titans until news broke late Wednesday night that he's finalizing an agreement to become the next head coach in New York.

Sealing the deal with a coach of this caliber is, of course, a monumental win for the Giants. Harbaugh's resume speaks for itself: His incredible 18-year run with the Ravens included a Super Bowl title, 12 playoff appearances, and 180 regular-season wins, good for 14th all time. Long having been considered one of the best leaders in football, the 63-year-old feels like a dream hire to revitalize a Giants organization that's flirted with irrelevance for well over a decade. New York has made the playoffs just twice in the 14 years since its most recent Super Bowl title.

Perhaps even more exciting than getting Harbaugh is what it means for the trajectory of the Giants: A legendary coach with his pick of open jobs chose them for his second act. Harbaugh must be able to see a path to getting this team back into contention sooner rather than later. With an impressive core of young talent at key positions, it's easy to understand why. A young offense built around Jaxson Dart, Malik Nabers, Cam Skattebo, and Andrew Thomas presents some exciting possibilities. And when it comes to laying the foundation for a great defense, you'd be hard-pressed to find a pass-rush group with more upside than one featuring Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, and Dexter Lawrence.

The timing is critical here, too. Harbaugh's ability to put together a strong coaching staff was a major element of his status as this cycle's top candidate. Giving him the opportunity to start that process while other teams are still in the early stages of interviews helps his chances of delivering in a big way. Could Todd Monken follow Harbaugh from Baltimore to New York as the offensive coordinator? A proven play-caller with a knack for scheming players open could really benefit Dart's development heading into Year 2.

We'll see what this move means for Joe Schoen. The Giants keeping their incumbent general manager to lead this coaching search seemed like the one factor that could get in the way of this match. Maybe Harbaugh is more amenable to inheriting a personnel staff than other coaches of his stature might be. Or perhaps it's only a matter of time before Schoen follows Brian Daboll out the door.

Either way, the Harbaugh sweepstakes have a winner, and it's an exciting day for Giants fans. The team's time as the NFC East's punching bag is likely over. That division is about to get a whole lot more interesting.

Grade: A

Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.