Latest NFL coaching news may have a major impact on the Minnesota Vikings quarterback search due to the presence of an old friend

The Atlanta Falcons hiring Kevin Stefanski to be their head coach could make the Minnesota Vikings quarterback search more difficult.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Oct 24, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) participates in warm ups while offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski looks on before the start of a game against the Washington Redskins at U.S. Bank Stadium.
David Berding-USA TODAY Sports

Saturday brought multiple pieces of coaching news. The New York Giants officially inked John Harbaugh to a contract, making him the next head coach. The Green Bay Packers signed Matt LaFleur to an extension, and the Minnesota Vikings declined to renew the contract of offensive line coach Chris Kuper.

The last one was an interesting development for the Vikings. The offensive line hadn’t been consistent, and head coach Kevin O’Connell believed a change was needed. He also said as such when it came to a quarterback competition.

“Yeah, I absolutely want a competitive situation,” said O’Connell in the season-ending press conference. “Obviously, J.J. [McCarthy] is going to be a major, major emphasis for our staff and our team and me personally, and we’ll figure out what that looks like as we navigate the early part of this offseason when it comes to managing the roster. And I know Kwesi [Adofo-Mensah] and his staff will do a great job of that, but I think ultimately, we’ve got to decide how to not only continue J.J.’s progression, allow him to continue to ascend as a young player, 22 years old with 10 starts, but at the same time, like I said, I think the competition in that room will only enhance our entire team.”

Kevin Stefanski taking Atlanta Falcons job could impact the quarterback market

The fourth piece of coaching news came on Saturday night when the Atlanta Falcons hired Kevin Stefanski to be their next head coach.

Stefanski was let go by the Cleveland Browns after the 2025 season, finishing his six-year tenure with the team. The toughest part for Stefanski was the quarterback situation. He inherited Baker Mayfield, who was good initially, but wore out his welcome for multiple reasons, both his and not his fault. Then came the Deshaun Watson debacle, which has proven to be the worst contract and arguably the worst trade in NFL history.

His move to the Falcons presents another quarterback situation. Atlanta selected Michael Penix Jr. at eighth overall, six weeks after signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract. It was seen as a crazy move at the time, and it hasn’t aged any better. Penix is now recovering from ACL surgery, and Cousins is set to be cut before March 13, when $67.9 million becomes fully guaranteed in 2027.

With the addition of Stefanski, deciding on Cousins becomes significantly more complicated. He’s been a fan of the former Vikings quarterback for years and worked with him in 2018 and 2019 when he was a member of Mike Zimmer’s coaching staff. That admiration consistently had Cousins linked to joining the Browns, including this past offseason, as Watson was recovering from a torn Achilles tendon.

What does all of that have to do with the Vikings? Well, Cousins could be at the top of their quarterback options this offseason. With him being fully guaranteed $10 million, the Vikings could get away with giving Cousins the veteran minimum, and the Falcons would pick up the rest of the tab.

With Stefanski taking over, there is a significantly higher chance the Falcons find a way to work out a contract with Cousins. He already knows the offense and can start until Penix returns to the field.

J.J. McCarthy is the guy the Vikings want to build around (for now), and how they approach acquiring a quarterback will determine how serious that intention is. Things are tougher now, and that is likely to linger throughout the offseason.

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