Tommy Rees Expected to Join Atlanta Falcons as Offensive Coordinator Under Kevin Stefanski
The Atlanta Falcons’ new era under head coach Kevin Stefanski is rapidly taking shape, and it appears he is bringing a familiar face to lead the offense. According to reports from ESPN and league insiders, it is "looking good" for Tommy Rees to join the Falcons as the team's new offensive coordinator. This move would reunite Rees with Stefanski, continuing a partnership that began in Cleveland and signaling a clear vision for the future of the Falcons' high-powered roster.
Tommy Rees Falcons Offensive Coordinator: The Stefanski Connection
The decision to bring Tommy Rees to Atlanta is a move rooted in continuity and trust. Rees spent the last two seasons working directly under Stefanski with the Cleveland Browns. Initially hired in 2024 as a pass game specialist and tight ends coach, Rees quickly ascended the ranks. By January 2025, he was promoted to offensive coordinator in Cleveland, and later that year, Stefanski handed him play-calling duties to help jumpstart a struggling unit.
Sources indicate that Rees was one of Stefanski’s top priorities when building his inaugural staff in Atlanta. The two shared a collaborative vision in Cleveland, often blending Stefanski’s traditional zone-running and play-action schemes with Rees’s modern passing concepts. For a Falcons team looking to stabilize an offense that has seen flashes of brilliance but lacked consistent execution, the hiring of a Tommy Rees Falcons Offensive Coordinator duo offers a cohesive philosophy from day one.
A Rapid Rise Through the Coaching Ranks
At just 33 years old, Tommy Rees has already built one of the most impressive resumes for a young coach in professional football. A former standout quarterback at Notre Dame, Rees transitioned to coaching with a maturity that caught the attention of the game’s greatest minds. His career highlights include:
- Notre Dame (2020–2022): Served as offensive coordinator for his alma mater, where the Irish averaged over 30 points per game and reached the College Football Playoff in 2020.
- Alabama (2023): Spent one season as offensive coordinator under the legendary Nick Saban, helping lead the Crimson Tide to an SEC Championship and a Playoff berth.
- Cleveland Browns (2024–2025): Successfully transitioned to the NFL, earning praise for his development of tight ends and his ability to adapt offensive schemes mid-season.
Rees’s ability to work with quarterbacks is perhaps his most valuable trait. Having played the position at a high level, he brings a player's perspective to the coaching room—a quality that will be vital as the Falcons look to develop their young signal-caller, Michael Penix Jr.
Revitalizing the Falcons’ Offensive Weapons
The arrival of Rees and Stefanski comes at a pivotal moment for the Falcons' roster. Atlanta boasts an enviable collection of young skill-position talent, including running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London, and tight end Kyle Pitts. Despite their individual talents, the Falcons finished the 2025 season ranked 24th in points scored per game (20.8).
Rees has a proven track record of maximizing versatile playmakers. During his time at Notre Dame, he helped develop NFL-caliber talents like Michael Mayer and Kyren Williams. In Atlanta, he will inherit a backfield led by Robinson, who remains one of the league's premier threats after posting 1,478 rushing yards in 2025. The challenge for Rees will be finding creative ways to integrate Pitts and London more consistently into the scoring zone, an area where the Falcons struggled during the previous regime.
Building Around Michael Penix Jr.
The most critical task for the new Tommy Rees Falcons Offensive Coordinator-led unit will be the management of the quarterback room. With Kirk Cousins providing veteran leadership, the long-term future of the franchise rests on the shoulders of 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. Before a season-ending knee injury in late 2025, Penix Jr. showed significant promise, throwing for 1,982 yards and nine touchdowns in just nine games.
Rees’s background as a pass game specialist is expected to play a major role in Penix’s recovery and development. Stefanski’s systems have historically favored quarterbacks who can execute timing-based throws and thrive in play-action scenarios—strengths that align well with Penix’s collegiate tape. By pairing a veteran mind like Stefanski with a rising star like Rees, the Falcons are betting that they have the right infrastructure to turn Penix into a franchise cornerstone.
What to Expect from the New-Look Falcons
Fans should expect a balanced, physical approach that doesn't shy away from attacking vertically. Stefanski’s offenses are known for their heavy use of multiple tight end sets—a specialty of Rees—which should finally unlock the full potential of Kyle Pitts. Furthermore, the emphasis on a strong zone-running game will allow Bijan Robinson to utilize his elite vision and elusiveness.
While the hire is not yet officially announced by the team, the momentum behind the move suggests that Atlanta is moving quickly to secure its staff before the heart of the offseason. If the reports hold true, the Falcons will have one of the most intriguing young coaching tandems in the NFL heading into the 2026 season.
