The Atlanta Falcons, after hiring Kevin Stefanski as their Head Coach, have made their next major move to reshape their offense. They have officially hired a former New York Jets coach as their new passing game coordinator. The decision, announced by the team via their official X handle, brings the former offensive coordinator to Atlanta just days after he hit the open market. 

“Tanner Engstrand has been named our passing game coordinator!” as per the official social media handle of the Atlanta Falcons, reported on X.

By moving quickly to secure Engstrand, the Falcons have added Tanner Engstrand, a  highly sought after coach by several teams despite his recent departure from New York. The team’s decision to bring Engstrand on board signals a focus on his proven success with the Detroit Lions rather than his single, difficult season with the Jets, where the team finished the 2025 season ranking 29th in both total offense, recording 262.6 yards per game, and scoring offense, recording 17.6 points per game. 

During his five-year tenure in Detroit, Engstrand was key to one of the league’s most explosive passing attacks, serving as the team’s passing game coordinator for two seasons. While his year in New York saw the Jets finish near the bottom of the league in scoring and yardage, the Falcons are banking on his innovative schemes to revitalize their own air game.

Quickly rebounding, Engstrand is moving to the Atlanta Falcons to become their new passing game coordinator under head coach Kevin Stefanski. He joins a fresh coaching staff that includes new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, giving Engstrand a brand-new opportunity to help design and lead the team’s passing strategy. And surely enough Stefanksi has already began stratergising changes for the team.

Kevin Stefanski might be planning on letting go of the team’s QB

The Atlanta Falcons are preparing to part ways with quarterback Kirk Cousins this March, just two years into his massive four-year, $180 million contract. Despite the team recently hiring head coach Kevin Stefanski, who helped Cousins achieve some of his best career results while in Minnesota, the “business of the NFL” is likely to outweigh their personal history.

The primary driver behind this move is a complicated contract restructure. If Cousins remains on the roster by March 13, a $67.9 million guarantee for the 2027 season will officially lock in. To avoid this, the Falcons are widely expected to cut him, though they haven’t completely closed the door on a return. The team is reportedly interested in bringing him back on a significantly cheaper, team-friendly deal if he is unable to find a better starting opportunity elsewhere in free agency.

“Quarterback Kirk Cousins has two years remaining on his contract but is expected to be released in early March after Atlanta restructured his contract so that he will be owed $68 million if he’s on the roster March 13,” The Athletic’s report reads. “Cousins could be released and then re-signed if he doesn’t find a better option elsewhere, and the Falcons are interested in bringing him back on a less-expensive contract.”

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Cousins’ tenure in Atlanta has been a statistical rollercoaster. Over two seasons, he made 24 appearances and threw for over 5,000 yards and 28 touchdowns, including a spectacular franchise-record 509-yard passing performance in 2024. However, his 21 interceptions and a lower completion percentage in 2025 created concerns about his consistency, especially as he nears age 38. 

His role also shifted significantly after the team drafted Michael Penix Jr., with Cousins moving into a backup and “relief” starter role following injuries to the younger quarterback.

While the recent contract tweaks provided the team with immediate salary cap relief, they also made Cousins nearly impossible to trade, leaving a release as the most logical path forward. For now, the focus in Atlanta is shifting toward developing their younger talent, leaving Cousins to decide whether he will accept a reduced role under Stefanski or test the open market one last time.