ZRG Partners and Sportsology Group Assists Atlanta Falcons with Head Coach Search
January 20, 2026 – ZRG Partners and Sportsology Group have assisted in the recruitment of Kevin Stefanski as the new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. His deal with the Falcons is for five years, according to a league source. He succeeds Raheem Morris, who went 20-25 in three seasons at the helm and was not retained following the 2025 season.
“We’re thrilled to land a lead-by-example leader in Kevin Stefanski, who brings a clear vision for his staff, our team and a closely aligned focus on building this team on fundamentals, toughness and active collaboration with every area of the football operation,” said Matt Ryan, president of football. “Kevin’s style of leadership, combined with the staff and infrastructure in place here in Atlanta, gives us confidence in our shared vision for the team, and we are excited to have him as the leader of our football team.
“Coach Stefanski is a team-first leader who puts a premium on accountability for everyone and a player-driven culture,” Mr. Ryan continued. “His experience in Cleveland and Minnesota has given him a great understanding of the importance of working in sync with scouting, personnel and the rest of the football staff to maximize talent across the roster and in doing everything possible to put our players in the best position to succeed. Kevin’s style of leadership, combined with the staff and infrastructure in place here in Atlanta, gives us confidence in our shared vision for the team and we are excited to have him as the leader of our football team.”
Mr. Stefanski spent six seasons as head coach for the Cleveland Browns from 2020 through the end of the 2025 season. Under his leadership, the Browns made their first playoff appearance since 2002, with an 11-5 record his first season. That year, he earned AP NFL Coach of the Year honors. Prior to his time in Cleveland, Mr. Stefanski was with the Minnesota Vikings. He held various positions with the Vikings, including assistant head coach, tight ends coach, running backs coach and quarterbacks coach. When the Vikings went through coaching changes in 2018, Mr. Stefanski became the interim offensive coordinator, a position he retained in official capacity in 2019.
Leading an Iconic Franchise
“I’m beyond thrilled to be charged with leading this iconic franchise,” Mr. Stefanski said in a statement. “I am grateful to Arthur Blank and Matt Ryan for trusting me to coach this football team and there are many talented players on our roster that I cannot wait to coach. We share a vision for this football team that I believe will make Falcons fans everywhere proud.”
Related: Search Firms Partner to Recruit Head Football Coach for University Northern Colorado
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, GA, and a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) South division of the National Football League. Founded in 1965, the franchise has competed in the NFL since 1966 and plays its home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
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ZRG, founded in 1999, is a fast-growing global talent advisory firm with the financial backing of private equity investor RFE Investment Partners. It provides a full suite of executive, middle management, and customized search solutions through its offices in North America, Europe, South America, and Asia. The firm finds leaders across a broad spectrum of business markets, including aerospace, consumer, education, healthcare services, and solutions, industrial, life sciences, non-profit, private equity and venture capital, and technology. ZRG is based in Rochelle Park, NJ.
Founded in 2014, Sportsology Group specializes in providing premium knowledge, insight, strategic advisory and operational support to franchise owners, global leagues and federations, and Institutional Investors driving success and accelerating transformation. We help empower sports organizations to create and own their future. In addition to New York, the firm has offices in London and Los Angeles. Executive chairman Mike Forde, who co-founded the firm, has worked in elite sport since 1998, including six years as a director at Chelsea Football Club, and is a trusted advisor on organizational and human capital performance.
Related: Executive Recruiters Continue Their Expansion into the Sports Industry
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
