Kevin Stefanski - Head Coach, falcons Event: Post Game Press Conference | Date: 2026-09-13 | Full transcript (primary source).
Kevin Stefanski addressed the media during the post-game press conference following the Falcons' loss to the Steelers on September 13, 2026. The coach discussed the team's performance, highlighting issues with penalties and turnovers that contributed to the defeat.
Transcript
Stefanski: Okay, give credit to the Steelers, did a nice job. Obviously our guys fought to the end there, but really if you look at the penalties, the turnovers, including a defensive score for them. It's just hard to win on the road when you do those things. It's hard to win period. It's real hard to win on the road when you do those things. So those are things that we feel like we can learn from. We can clean them up as coaches, as players certainly. Love the effort from our guys, but you know how this NFL goes. You got to be about your business on Sundays, and you got to carry the practice field to the game field. You have to make sure that you take all those training camp reps and apply them. And a couple times we weren't as sharp as I would have liked today. Story is, you lose the game, you give them credit, and you're right back at home this week versus a division opponent. So we'll move on quickly from this one tomorrow after we learn from it. But with that, I'll take any questions.
Reporter: On the rush plane, you're being-
Stefanski: Again, hard to say right this minute. Obviously, I'd have to watch it. He battled like I knew he would. Proud of him for how he fought through the end. Obviously, we don't want to turn the ball over and those type of things. But we got to look at ways that we can help him.
Reporter: How close to 100 was he?
Stefanski: I think close to 100. Yeah.
Reporter: Any update on when Mike or two of Mike may-
Stefanski: I don't have an update. I don't.
Reporter: Nine penalties, I believe. Where do you think that came from?
Stefanski: Well, they seem to be post-snap rather than pre-snap. So we got to look at our technique and look at if there's ways to be better. Obviously, the huge one on the kickoff return for a touchdown. I'd have to look at that to give you a good assessment of it. There's some of this that happens on every play that you want your guys to have great technique and have your hands inside. And then there's other ones where we got beat quickly and we resorted to holding and we'll look at ways to be better there.
Reporter: How much of your original game plan were you able to keep with Cooper Elvin?
Stefanski: We haven't two days. Enough, yeah. I mean, obviously, you have to adjust things when you change the quarterback. But there's plenty that we were able to keep.
Reporter: Nick and Miss three kicks, I think, combined from 23 through last year. How surprised are you, by the way, because after you win?
Stefanski: Well, listen, Nick's not going to be perfect this year. I don't expect him to be perfect. I don't expect our football team to be perfect. But you want your guys to respond to it, so I know he'll respond.
Reporter: Third downs were kind of a story on both sides. You mentioned the penalties that I was into it. But your thoughts on, offensively, how you all did. And then defensively limiting them on third downs.
Stefanski: Yeah, I mean, defensively, listen, we held them to however many points as a defense. And I gave up a short field touchdown, if I'm not mistaken, or points. So I thought defensively, we held them to a good clip. I thought the guys understood the plan. And when you're going up against a great quarterback and the chess match that goes with it, I thought the guys by and large did a great job.
Reporter: How'd you feel you handled their pass rush and just the pressure that they were able to bring?
Stefanski: Yeah, well, you know going into this game it's going to be a difficult matchup because they have excellent rushers. And that's not just the offensive line's job to protect. It's everybody's job to protect. And that's wide receivers getting open, doing what you're supposed to do in the pass game, being great with your chips, being great with your everybody else, what they're supposed to do, a ball coming out when the ball's supposed to come out, so I think it's not fair to just point to the offensive line when it comes to that. And so recognize that it's a tough matchup and a great group and you give them credit, but we feel like there's things that we can definitely do better.
Reporter: And Cooper had the max value this rate. Was there any ever any chance that Jack Strand might have played today?
Stefanski: Cooper was healthy and could start.
Reporter: Bajan Robinson finished, I believe, 173 yards. What'd you make of his day and how he looked in this offense in the run?
Stefanski: Sure, I think there's, listen, Bajan's a great player. We're going to keep leaning on him in all of these games. And we have to, obviously, I know you guys know this. We have to find ways to get all of our guys to touches. And that's definitely going to be a focus of ours. But I thought Bajan, the plays that were there when they're, you know, when our guys executed at a high level, which was on a few times today, that you could see where he just needs a little bit of a crease. And I think that's what you saw from him.
Reporter: Are you feeling your pass questions effectively?
Stefanski: That's a tough unit there because Rodgers gets the ball out very quickly, as we know. So I knew that there'd be not a ton of opportunities where he'd be holding the ball and those type of things. But to hold them to, I think, 313 on third down, I think that, you know, that's a byproduct of your rush and your coverage.
Reporter: What about Zidarius?
Stefanski: You know, he joined the team later on. He got a big site to point Zidarius out there. Yeah, I thought Zee gave us some good reps out there. Obviously, I got to watch all of it. But listen, we got a lot of reps from Zidarius. Baralyn Trice was out there. You see Arab Dula, who we recently acquired. So a lot of new guys that were figuring out their roles for them. And so I'm proud of them and their effort in a bunch of their roles.
Reporter: Did you expect Pittsburgh to play without their top corner? And just what were the thoughts when you found out that he was inactive?
Stefanski: Yeah, we wait until that inactive to see ultimately what's going to happen. But I knew that there was a chance that that may happen. Yes.
Reporter: I understand if it's kind of a dirty word. But if Tua and Mike are both healthy, does Tua sort of go back to the top of the order where he was? Or is everybody coming back and we start again?
Stefanski: I'm like, I'll kind of keep my focus on this game. I'm not going to really think too much ahead of that.
Reporter: Tom, for a couple more guys. You mentioned that number of touches as we move into college. It was held without a catch. Was that anything Pittsburgh was doing to take them away? Was that game play oriented or?
Stefanski: Well, I think it's all of the above. And certainly when we had the holding penalties, the batted balls, those are opportunities that you're not getting in the past game. So we'll find ways to be better and he'll find ways to be better.
Reporter: And left early, is that long term? Do you not yet?
Stefanski: Don't know yet. Have some tests to do on that one.
Reporter: Did you ever consider putting Strand in today?
Stefanski: No. And listen, Jack, I'm very proud of his development. And he's obviously thrust into a tough spot for a young player being a backup in the NFL. But he's pleased with where Jack's development is.
Stefanski: Thanks, guys.
Stefanski: OK, thank you, guys.
Unknown: Thank you, Ken.
