Drake London Praises Kevin Stefanski's Demanding 4th Falcons Regime
drake london is part of a Falcons offseason built around a sharper standard, and A.J. Terrell says Kevin Stefanski has set that tone quickly. The 27-year-old cornerback said he likes the demanding approach as Atlanta works through OTAs and tries to define its identity under a new regime.
Terrell said, “I love for Stefanski to come in and be demanding” and added, “His approach to the guys is that he wants us to be better.” He also tied the early work to the bigger target, saying, “We all know as a team what our goals are this year as far as getting to the playoffs and having a chance at the dance, and that’s what we’re doing right now starting early.”
Terrell on Stefanski
For Terrell, communication is the biggest change under the new staff. He said that is the primary difference for him, and he backed Stefanski’s message of hard work, hard practice and high-level competition while still taking care of each other.
He also reacted positively to Stefanski’s calluses-over-blisters line, saying, “I like that message that he brought to us.” That fits the tone of OTAs, where the Falcons are trying to connect the pieces that make up the team’s foundation rather than rush past the details.
Lindstrom and the new standard
Chris Lindstrom said the early days of OTAs felt awkward as he worked with Stefanski, Tommy Rees and Bill Callahan, saying he “felt like a baby deer.” The starting right guard, who is the team’s second longest-tenured player, said the focus around the organization is now centered on embodying the qualities Stefanski emphasizes.
Lindstrom put it plainly: “Now, it’s establishing what the standard is going to be, what the standard you want to be is.” That message has become part of the Falcons’ daily work as they sort through a new coaching structure led by Stefanski, general manager Ian Cunningham and president of football Matt Ryan.
Terrell's fourth reset
This is another reset for Terrell. Since being drafted in 2020, he has now played through what he estimated as “Probably four” coaching staffs and front-office changes, a span that has made stability a moving target for one of Atlanta’s core defenders.
The Falcons returned much of their defensive staff, including coordinator Jeff Ulbrich and secondary coach Justin Hood, but the larger structure around the team has changed again. Terrell said the group knows the finish line already: playoffs and a chance at the dance, and OTAs are where the standard has to start taking shape.
