Kevin Stefanski - Head Coach, falcons Event: Press Conference | Date: 2026-09-14 | Full transcript (primary source).
Kevin Stefanski addressed the media during a press conference on September 14, 2026, following a challenging week for the Falcons. The coach provided updates on player injuries and reflected on the team's performance in their recent game, emphasizing the importance of turnover margins and areas for improvement.
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Transcript
Stefanski: Okay, and I'll give you injury updates to start. Deshawn Hand has a quad injury that will require surgery. He's expected to be out for the season. Chris Lindstrom is in concussion protocol. I'll have an update as the week goes on there. Obviously, disappointed for Deshawn. You know, just been a great addition to this team on and off the field. So we'll work through that over the next few days. You know, looking at the game, obviously frustrating to go on the road and not play well enough to win. But just some of those things that we talk about going into those games, it's gonna be hard to win if you're minus in the turnover margin. And I think if you look around the league, I think it's true that everybody who won the turnover margin this week won the game and everybody lost the turnover margin, lost the game. So it's not as simple as that. Of course, there are times that you can win a game with being minus in the turnover margin, but it's just all the little things. And that's not just a quarterback stat, obviously. That's everybody. That's how we take care of the ball, all those who touch it. And that's how we take the ball away for our defense and our special team. So we can be better there. It's a point of emphasis for us. We'll continue to work very hard in that department. And then just, you know, week one, a lot of little things, a lot of little things that we can improve and a lot of those little things add up to the big thing. And again, why you don't come away with a victory there is a bunch of little things that add up and we have to be better, we will be better. So today, big day for our football team to learn from those things and have our coaches spend time with our players and point out those things and then, you know, come back better for it and then move on to, you know, a division opponent at our place. So excited about our opportunity that we have in front of us but also want to make sure that we learn from the one from yesterday. So with that, I'll take any questions.
Reporter: Hey, Kevin, how are you?
Stefanski: Hey, Daniel.
Reporter: Having watched the tape now, how did you evaluate how Rush played yesterday? And when I'd asked you that after the game, you said there were things you felt like you guys could have done maybe to help him more or you wanted to check to see if there were. Along those lines, how much more could you guys have helped him?
Stefanski: Yeah, I mean, that's, well, first part is, like I mentioned to you guys, Cooper, you know, battled. Obviously you want the turnovers back. You have to give credit to the Steelers as well on those plays. So those are things that we can learn from. All of us can learn from those plays. And then, you know, talking about helping, I think that's our job as coaches. We want to help all of our guys, whether you're playing quarterback or any position on our team. So ways to give you easy completions, ways to run the football, ways to, you know, score points any which way. So that's a constant thing that we're looking at, but, you know, that's not unique to that game at all. We just, there's things that we feel like we can do better. And that's what, again, like I mentioned, those are the conversations that we have today that we can be better as coaches, we can be better as players, and let's learn from this one.
Reporter: Do you have any clarity on how the QB spot will look this week, health-wise, with anybody?
Stefanski: I don't have any updates on that today, Daniel.
Reporter: Coach, do you know the timeline for that decision? I mean, do you expect it to be by Wednesday, or could it last all the way through the week until we get to Friday and Saturday?
Stefanski: Yeah, we'll see, Mark. I really don't have an update yet. I need to get through today before we can really make that determination.
Reporter: What else did you see from the offense, specifically that was, you know, that stood out as the biggest area for improvement, particularly at the quarterback position?
Stefanski: Well, yeah, I think it's easy to highlight the quarterback position, but I would tell you, just, we have to stay on the field and got into some, you know, not great down to distances for our offense to convert a couple times there, got, you know, moved back with some holding penalties. We had a third and one that we didn't get. We had a third and one and a half two that we didn't get. So those are all little things that we feel like we can be better. And just staying on the field gives you more turns, gives you more opportunities. And I think there's ways that we need to, we need to stay on the field as a football team.
Reporter: Thanks, Coach.
Reporter: Hey, Kev, apologies for driving here. With the guys being off tomorrow, did you talk to Michael today and ask him if he's ready that when you guys come back to practice on Wednesday, he's good to go and can lead his first team?
Stefanski: Is Georgia a hands-free state? Do we know?
Reporter: Yes.
Stefanski: It is, okay. It is, yes. I don't want to be complicit. Please don't record it. I don't want to be complicit in this.
Reporter: Thanks, bro. Really, it goes to the first part that I just mentioned. I don't have an update. I'll obviously hope to have more clarity on all of our positions via just injuries and whatnot later today, the next few days. So I don't have an update.
Reporter: All right, thank you. Drive safe.
Reporter: Yeah, I was reviewing snap count this morning. I saw that Z only played like 16 snaps but he had two sacks, like three tackles for loss, a couple of quarterback hits. One was the snap count, just part of his process of trying to acclimate him. And two, what impressed you about how he played?
Stefanski: Yeah, pretty good ratio, one out of eight snaps. But yeah, definitely a plan to acclimate Z. And he's just coming back to getting back into practice, getting back into football shape, quote unquote, proud of how he's gotten himself ready, proud of the impact that he has on this football team every single day. Obviously, his ability to affect the quarterback is a huge deal. And the hope is to continue to bring him along.
Reporter: Mark, do you have something else?
Reporter: Yeah, coach, obviously the kicking game wasn't what you wanted. I just had an impact in the game. Not that you'd make a change this soon, but how do you evaluate that? And, you know, as that goes along, at what point do you get to a point where you have to say we might need to start reevaluating the position if it persists?
Stefanski: Yeah, Nick's a pro. I have total faith and trust in Nick. Obviously, he wants to come through for the football team. You know, it wasn't like those were, you know, short field goals, at least the first one. So he will be better. He will come through for his football team.
Reporter: Yeah, I got one more if you got time for it.
Stefanski: I got all the time for you, Daniel.
Reporter: Oh, I love that, Kevin. Thank you so much. When we talked to Nate Ollie back in the spring, he called to Sean Ham, like kingpin or whatever, just because of how important you guys viewed him and just trying to be a run defender. Without him, what's your confidence level in the, you know, room around him and how hard is it to lose a guy like that?
Stefanski: Yeah, like I mentioned, hard because of the person he is. And I'm serious, just what he brings to this building on a day-to-day basis. And that's what I appreciate about him in the first place is just the guy he is. Doesn't hurt that he's from Philly. But just a tough, tough dude. Now, to the second part, yeah, injuries are part of this game that nobody likes and guys have to step up. So we'll look at different things that we can do, but feel really confident in the guys that we have currently in that room and in our building that we feel like can make an impact. But it's never easy when you lose somebody like Deehan.
Reporter: And then, you know, Trice hadn't played in the pro game at all prior to yesterday. How did he play in your eyes and just kind of how cool is it to be able to see him play considering that he's experienced a lot the last two years here?
Stefanski: Yeah, good to finally get Braylon out there and I think good for him. And like any first time out there, he's not a rookie, but for all intents and purposes he is. So there's plenty to improve upon, but glad that he was out there and we can build off of that.
