Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski will face his former team for the first time in Week 14 of the 2026 NFL season when Atlanta travels to Cleveland in a potentially pivotal late-season matchup with playoff implications.
The Atlanta Falcons and the rest of the NFL discovered when they would face each of their opponents for the upcoming 2026 season on Thursday. While the team hopes to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2017, new head coach Kevin Stefanski will have to get through his old team to make his chances easier.
After being fired by the Cleveland Browns this past season, Stefanski will have his opportunity for revenge quickly, as the Falcons will play them this season. However, it won’t be too quick as the 2026 schedule will give the new Atlanta head coach enough time to get comfortable in his new role before a potential emotional showdown.
The Falcons will travel to Huntington Bank Field during Week 14 of the season on December 13th. This will give Stefanski, his new looking coaching staff, and the Falcons 12 games under their belt before the reunion. If history decides to repeat itself, Stefanski was 9-3 in his first 12 games as head coach of his former squad en route to his first of two playoff appearances in his six seasons leading Cleveland.
This game could carry some weight, however, since it is so late in the season. It will be the final game against an AFC opponent before heading into a tough slate of games to finish the year against four teams inside the Falcons conference, including all three AFC South opponents. Not only will this game be important for Stefanski, who will want to leave his mark in more than one way after being let go, but it could position them firmly in the playoff race before the final stretch of the year.
The biggest question may not be if the Falcons are ready for the Cleveland squad who finished 5-12 in Stefanski’s finals season at the helm. But rather if the fans in The Forest City will cheer or boo for their former coach.