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Newly hired Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski made his first statement to his new team. As he addressed the criticisms made by his former quarterback Baker Mayfield.
As Mayfield is now the signal caller for division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers, whatever noise that surrounds that situation Stefanski is not interested in adding more fuel to the fire.
Speaking on the Buccaneers quarterback, Stefanski pushed back on recent criticism while making it clear that competition does not require personal shots.
“Baker's somebody that I have a ton of respect for as a player and a person,” Stefanski said. “I love rivalries in sports and obviously Buccaneers-Falcons have a great rivalry. It's something that I'm excited about, but I would not get into the specifics of those type of things other than to say I have a ton of respect for Baker as a player, as a person. That's a great team with a great player.”
It was a calculated response in a league that often rewards controversy. Stefanski chose to take the high road.
Mayfield has had a career that went up and down considering he was taken first overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.
From his early success in Cleveland where he led them back to the playoffs in his first season. His less than stellar stint in Carolina and now his resurgence in Tampa Bay, he carried the weight of a franchise many times and all the praise and criticism they came with it.
And the performance speaks for itself.
Mayfield has stabilized the Buccaneers offense and reestablished himself as a legitimate starting quarterback in the league.
His arm talent, toughness, and confidence have fueled Tampa Bay’s relevance in the post Tom Brady era making the Bucs a legitimate threat in the NFC and a dangerous rival for Atlanta.
Stefanski’s response also signals a broader tone for the Falcons as they lean into a heated divisional matchup. Rivalries sell themselves. Coaches do not need to manufacture tension, and Stefanski made it clear he would rather let the teams speak on the field.
“I love rivalries in sports,” he said, acknowledging the energy and stakes of Buccaneers vs. Falcons without turning it personal.
For Atlanta, the matchup carries real weight. The Falcons are wanting to build on their back to back 8-9 season to have a shot at winning the division and making the playoffs for more than a decade.
Tampa Bay remains one of the most direct obstacles in that path, and Mayfield sits at the center of their offensive identity.
Respect does not equal fear. Stefanski’s comments did not soften the competitive edge. Instead, they sharpened it by framing the contest as a battle between quality teams and quality players.
On Sunday, none of the quotes will matter. Only the execution will.
And Stefanski made it clear he is preparing for Baker Mayfield the competitor, not the caricature.
English (US)