Kevin Stefanski was supposed to bring some stability to the Atlanta Falcons - Instead, the new head coach is already dealing with the kind of quarterback uncertainty that became a recurring problem during his time with the Cleveland Browns.
After the Falcons announced Monday that Tua Tagovailoa will start Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jason McIntyre put it simply: "Kevin Stefanski was in Cleveland for 6 years. He had complete disasters every single year at quarterback... He's dealing with crap again in Atlanta!"
The Falcons spent all offseason trying to figure out which quarterback gives them the best chance to win. Now they have a starter, but they don't necessarily have a long term answer. That sounds awfully familiar for Stefanski.
Cause during Stefanski's six seasons as Cleveland's head coach, the Browns never found consistent quarterback stability.
Baker Mayfield was the closest thing Stefanski had to an established starter. Cleveland also used Case Keenum, Jacoby Brissett, Deshaun Watson, Joe Flacco and others at various points during Stefanski's time with the organization.
Yes the Browns did make the playoffs twice under Stefanski, including a 11-5 season in his first year. But the problem was that Stefanski rarely had the luxury of knowing exactly what his quarterback situation would look like from one season to the next.
That is why Jason McIntyre's reaction to the Falcons' decision carries some weight. He pointed directly at Stefanski's history in Cleveland and questioned whether the coach is dealing with another quarterback mess in Atlanta.
There is some truth to that comparison, even if blaming Stefanski for Cleveland's entire quarterback situation would be unfair.
Tua's grip on the starting job is razor thin
The most important part of Monday's announcement might not be that Tua Tagovailoa is starting. It's that Michael Penix Jr. is still part of the equation.
The Atlanta Falcons have already spent months dealing with uncertainty at the most important position on the roster. Stefanski has now made his first decision, but he may not have made his final one.
That is what makes this situation so familiar.
Stefanski doesn't need another quarterback carousel in Atlanta. He needs one of Tagovailoa or Penix to seize the job and give the Falcons the stability they've been searching for.
For now, Tagovailoa has the opportunity.
What happens after Week 1 could determine whether Stefanski finally gets the quarterback consistency he never had in Cleveland.
Add us as a preferred source on Google