Kevin Stefanski - Head Coach, falcons Event: Press Conference | Date: 2026-09-20 | Full transcript (primary source).
Kevin Stefanski addressed the media during a press conference on September 20, 2026, following a disappointing game for the Falcons. The coach discussed injury updates for several players and emphasized the need for the team to learn from their mistakes as they prepare for their upcoming Thursday night game.
Transcript
Stefanski: All right, injury front. We'll obviously get some more news on our guys as we get testing done. But Sam, Samson had a hamstring, AJ had a groin injury. Brandon Dorless is dealing with a thumb injury. Juwan Taylor dealing with a rib injury. So we'll get more information on all those over the next coming hours.
Stefanski: Obviously, extremely disappointed in that game and extremely disappointed in how that game started. And then could not crawl out of that hole. And in the second half, got away from us, so very disappointed.
Stefanski: As you guys know, giveaways and takeaways are the key to this game and to turn it over that many times. And obviously, we didn't take it away at all. So there's no way to win in the NFL like that. So we'll have to learn from it and we'll have to get better from these experiences.
Stefanski: And that means Thursday night, these Thursday night games come and you gotta get ready to roll. So that's what we'll do. We'll put this one away quickly and move on to the next one. But with that, I'll take any questions.
Stefanski: Listen, every game you come into as a team and as a coach, as a player, you wanna perform well and you wanna perform up to your standard. That was not up to our standard. So we will look at ways that we can be better.
Reporter: Do you have any update more on Michael Panik's situation?
Stefanski: I do not have an update right now, no.
Reporter: With Rush, I mean, just kinda how did he play in your eyes? And then when you put Jack in, how did he look to you?
Stefanski: Like I mentioned, listen, Cooper's given us everything he's got. And unfortunately, we turned the ball over there, including on the first play, which should never be a turnover. So those are the type of things. Those are correctable, we gotta get them fixed.
Reporter: Loud boos as well, obviously, how did you react to those?
Stefanski: Yeah, I don't react to the crowd. Our crowd is amazing, I respect their, that's when you're a fan. And you can let our team know when you're displeased and you can let us know when you're happy. I mean, that's just part of being a fan.
Reporter: Coach Inabek, what is your confidence level in Jack Strand and Cooper Rush at this moment?
Stefanski: Yeah, I wouldn't even go there. I'm disappointed in our performance as a football team. That's all of us, that's not just one position. Disappointed and I'm gonna make sure that we look at answers and not pinpoint one position, if you will.
Reporter: Hey, Kevin over here. With it being a short week and thinking about Michael Penix, is it realistic to even think he might have a possibility to play this week? And what's the next step in his progress?
Stefanski: To be fair, I don't think now's the time to know what the plan is. This exact week, I'm really focused on this week. Like I've told you guys all along and throughout, Mike is continuing to progress. So we'll work through that this week.
Reporter: Kevin, network cameras understandably saw frustrated players on the sidelines. Do you think the lack of success at the quarterback positions having a trickle down effect to the players?
Stefanski: I think lack of success period has a trickle down to all human beings. And we got great resolve, we got great resilience in that locker room, we'll make sure that we're ready to go Thursday night.
Reporter: Is Cooper's back still bothering him?
Stefanski: I don't wanna speak for Coop in that regard.
Reporter: Do you feel like his back was any part of today's performance?
Stefanski: Again, I don't wanna speak for Coop.
Reporter: Coach, in the back here. You mentioned the fan base earlier. Your thoughts on the first regular season game you've had inside the bench?
Stefanski: Yeah, disappointed that we couldn't be better for our fans. I think we have the best fans in the world and they wanna support us. But we gotta give them reason to support us. We gotta play better, we can't turn the ball over like that. That's not up to our standard.
Reporter: Despite the turnovers, no red zone trips in the opening two games. What do you attribute that to?
Stefanski: Turning the ball over, turn over on downs, turn the ball over. You gotta maintain your drives, obviously, but we'll be better.
Reporter: Kevin, obviously, one play doesn't make the whole game. But the end of round to Drake on the fourth and one. What was the thought behind that? And was Lloyd supposed to be accounted for on that play?
Stefanski: Yeah, listen, any call, defense, offense, special teams, any call made on the field is my responsibility. So we'll make sure that we constantly give our guys a chance. When you design a defensive scheme or an offensive scheme or special teams, you're obviously looking at things that you see on tape. And when they make a play, you give them credit. So in that play specifically, I give them credit.
Stefanski: Yeah, not gonna get into the specifics of the play, but they certainly made a play, we did not.
Reporter: Go ahead, Josh. Regardless of Mike, if you don't have Mike or Dark Week three, or do you have to make a decision?
Stefanski: Yeah, I don't think it's fair to get into that right now.
Stefanski: Okay, thank you guys, appreciate it.
