Falcons Head Coach Kevin Stefanski Responds to Baker Mayfield's Viral Tweet

Stefanski addresses his former player's comments about lack of communication after trade from Cleveland.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 3:31am

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New Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski met with the Atlanta media for the first time since being hired, and addressed a recent viral tweet from his former quarterback Baker Mayfield. Mayfield, who is now the starting QB for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, tweeted that he never received a phone call or text from Stefanski after being traded from Cleveland. Stefanski expressed respect for Mayfield as both a player and a person, and said he's excited about the Falcons-Buccaneers rivalry.

Why it matters

The relationship between Stefanski and Mayfield, as well as the ongoing rivalry between the Falcons and Buccaneers, are storylines that will likely continue to be followed as the 2026 NFL season approaches. Stefanski's comments provide insight into how he views his former player and the divisional matchup.

The details

Stefanski was asked about Mayfield's viral tweet during his news conference on Tuesday. The coach said he has 'a ton of respect' for Mayfield as both a player and a person, and that he's 'excited about' the Falcons-Buccaneers rivalry. Stefanski did not get into the specifics of his communication with Mayfield after the trade.

  • Mayfield tweeted about the lack of communication from Stefanski last week.
  • Stefanski addressed Mayfield's comments during his news conference on Tuesday.

The players

Kevin Stefanski

The new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, who previously coached Baker Mayfield when he was the quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.

Baker Mayfield

The starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who previously played for the Cleveland Browns under Kevin Stefanski's coaching.

Matt Ryan

The president of football operations for the Atlanta Falcons, who hired Kevin Stefanski as the team's new head coach.

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What they’re saying

“I love rivalries in sports and obviously Buccaneers, Falcons have a great rivalry. It's something that I'm excited about.”

— Kevin Stefanski, Head Coach, Atlanta Falcons (wsbtv.com)

“You know Baker is somebody that I have a ton of respect for as a player and a person.”

— Kevin Stefanski, Head Coach, Atlanta Falcons (wsbtv.com)

What’s next

The Falcons and Buccaneers are scheduled to face off twice during the 2026 NFL season, with the dates and times to be determined when the full schedule is released in May.

The takeaway

The relationship between new Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski and his former quarterback Baker Mayfield, as well as the ongoing divisional rivalry between the Falcons and Buccaneers, will be storylines to watch as the 2026 NFL season approaches. Stefanski's comments suggest he has respect for Mayfield and is looking forward to the matchups between the two teams.