Kevin Stefanski's move to Atlanta has already stirred up old feelings in Tampa.
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After Stefanski was hired as the Falcons' head coach, a social media post resurfaced highlighting the Browns' quarterback carousel during his Cleveland tenure. That caught the attention of Baker Mayfield, who bristled at being lumped into what some labeled a "dumpster fire" at the position.
Mayfield, of course, was Stefanski's starter when the coach arrived in Cleveland in 2020. Together, they led the Browns to a playoff win and a trip to the divisional round, one of the franchise's rare recent highs. After Cleveland missed the postseason in 2021, Mayfield was traded to the Panthers, later saying he felt "shipped off like a piece of garbage" and noting he was still waiting to hear from Stefanski.
He also made it clear he is looking forward to seeing his former coach twice a year.
At Stefanski's introductory press conference with Atlanta, he took the high road.
"Baker's somebody I have a ton of respect for as a player and a person," Stefanski said, adding that he embraces rivalries and is excited about the Buccaneers matchup. He declined to dive into specifics but praised Mayfield and the Bucs.
The schedule for 2026 is not out yet, but when the Falcons and Buccaneers meet, the Stefanski-Mayfield subplot will be one of the louder storylines.
