After another losing season, the Atlanta Falcons hit reset – and fans at GCSU are not shy about what they think of the new direction.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons, is approximately 99 miles away from Georgia College. 94% of GCSU’s students are natives of Georgia, meaning there are plenty of Falcons fans on campus.
After the Falcons’ 8-9 season, they decided to fire head coach Raheem Morris, along with General Manager, Terry Fontenot.
In the following weeks, the Falcons made multiple fires including former franchise quarterback, Matt Ryan, as president of football. Kevin Stefanski is the new head coach and Ian Cunningham is the new general manager
Falcons fans across GCSU’s campus have reacted to this news, including senior Zach Steinberg.
“I love the moves this offseason. Raheem Morris needed to go” Steinberg said. “Stefanski is a great coach. You don’t win the NFL Coach Of The Year twice without being a great coach”
The Falcons are in the midst of an eight-year playoff drought, which is the second-longest active streak behind the New York Jets.
Owner Arthur Blank has made his plan clear that he wants to win, and win now. Blank is yet to win the ultimate prize in the NFL: a Super Bowl ring.
“Stefanski has multiple losing records on his resume”, said Michael Fazio, senior accounting major. “The team is ready to win, and they have the talent to do it”.
The criticism on the hiring of Kevin Stefanski is that he had an overall 45-58 (.455) record with the Cleveland Browns in the five seasons he was the head coach. This includes winning two NFL Coach Of The Year awards in 2020 and 2023, as well as a 5-12 record in the 2025 season, leading to his departure from Cleveland.
“Stefanski was a 2x COTY [Coach Of The Year] for the worst organization in football” Fazio said. “He was hired by Matt Ryan, someone Falcons’ fans love and can put their trust into. Until something goes bad, you should trust Matt Ryan”.
Falcons fans across campus recognize where the franchise has been in the past decade. and are hopeful for a turnaround, with Kevin Stefanski calling the plays.
“As a life-long [Falcons] fan, this franchise has suffered more than anyone [except the Browns]. A new hire means new hope”, said Matt Mulero, junior business major. “I can only believe in it. The end goal is a Super Bowl. Is Stefanski the guy to get us there?”.
Some GCSU students, including sophomore Scott Brinson believe that the franchise’s Super Bowl loss in 2016 to the New England Patriots sent the franchise into the wrong direction.
“Since the disappointment of the Super Bowl, all we have tried to do is rebound back to that moment. Not rebuild, but rebound”, said Scott Brinson, sophomore business major. “We don’t take our time, we are not wise. We bet, we don’t take risks. Until Atlanta is a contender, I won’t believe we ever will be one”.
The Atlanta Falcons will return to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in September this year, with a brand new look. A new coach on the sidelines, a new general manager making personnel decisions and a new President of Football.
