FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — New Atlanta coach Kevin Stefanski continued to build his staff on Sunday by adding Tanner Engstrand as offensive passing game coordinator.
Engstrand was the New York Jets’ offensive coordinator in 2025. The Jets and Engstrand agreed to part ways on Tuesday.
The addition of Engstrand came one day after Stefanski hired Alex Van Pelt as quarterbacks coach. Van Pelt joins offensive coordinator Tommy Rees as former Cleveland coaches under Stefanski, the former Browns coach.
Stefanski was hired as coach on Jan. 17. The Falcons hired Ian Cunningham as general manager on Thursday after adding longtime Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan as president of football.
New York struggled on offense under Engstrand in 2025 and subpar quarterback play was an issue. Justin Fields, signed in the offseason, started only nine games before he was benched in favor of veteran Tyrod Taylor. Undrafted rookie Brady Cook started the final four games because of injuries to Fields and Taylor.
The Jets finished last in the NFL in yards passing and 29th in both total yards per game and points per game.
With Atlanta, Engstrand and Rees will support Stefanski in emphasizing the development of quarterback Michael Penix Jr. as the Falcons attempt to end a streak of eight consecutive losing seasons.
Prior to New York, Engstrand spent five seasons with the Detroit Lions, including the 2023-24 seasons as passing game coordinator.
The Falcons on Sunday also added Tokunbo “Tumbo” Abanikanda the team's director of scouting. He joined the Falcons as a scouting assistant in 2012 before a series of promotions, including to national scout in 2021 and director, college scouting in 2024.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
New Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski speaks during a NFL Atlanta Falcons news conference, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
New Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski speaks during a NFL Atlanta Falcons news conference, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
FILE - New York Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand answers questions from media at NFL minicamp football, June 11, 2025, in Florham Park, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray, File)
MADRID (AP) — Kylian Mbappé came through for Real Madrid again, converting a penalty kick 10 minutes into second-half stoppage time to salvage a 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano and move Madrid back within a point of Spanish league leader Barcelona on Sunday.
Vinícius Júnior also scored for Madrid after again being jeered by fans early on at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Jude Bellingham, also booed when the lineup was announced, had to be replaced 10 minutes into the match because of a left hamstring injury.
Madrid was coming off a 4-2 loss at Benfica that dropped the team out of the eight automatic spots for the round of 16 of the Champions League. It will face Benfica again in the playoffs.
“We came from a tough defeat, one that nobody ever wants, in the Champions, a competition many of us aspire to win," Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde said. “We wanted to change that image, today we had the first opportunity, and I think we played a great game.”
It was a thriller at the Bernabeu on Sunday, with Mbappé giving Madrid the victory by coolly converting the last-gasp penalty for his eighth goal in five matches.
The result allowed Álvaro Arbeloa's side to keep pace with Barcelona, which won 3-1 at Elche on Saturday.
“It was a victory in which the players put a lot of energy, their soul,” said Arbeloa, who took over after replacing Xabi Alonso last month. “We needed the help of the fans and without their push we would not have achieved it.”
The boos toward Vinícius were subdued after he scored a superb goal in the 15th minute. The Brazil international cleared a couple of defenders before curling a right-footed shot into the top corner.
Rayo, which played a man down from the 80th after Pathé Ciss was sent off with a straight red card for a hard foul, equalized through Jorge De Frutos in the 49th.
Vallecano, which threatened at times at the Bernabeu, also saw Pep Chavarría shown a second yellow in the final minutes of added time.
Rayo, which has lost four straight in all competitions, had lost only one of its last five games against Madrid in the league. It dropped to 17th place, just outside the relegation zone.
Bellingham was on his own when he seemed to pick up the injury. He immediately grabbed the back of his leg with his left hand before going to the ground. He received medical assistance and seemed emotional as he left the field under his own power.
Madrid did not provide a timetable for Bellingham's recovery but Spanish media said he is not likely to recover in time to face Benfica in the Champions League playoffs.
The England international was replaced by Brahim Díaz, who five minutes later set up the Vinícius goal that made it 1-0 for Madrid. Díaz also prompted the foul of the penalty converted by Mbappé.
Mbappé had missed an open net in the 68th, hitting the crossbar after getting past the goalkeeper.
With the game tied 1-1 in the 64th, Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois came up with a crucial save on a one-on-one following a Rayo breakaway.
Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta scored an 88th-minute equalizer as Athletic Bilbao salvaged a 1-1 draw at home against Basque Country rival Real Sociedad.
The visitors had taken the lead with Gonçalo Guedes' goal in the 37th. Sociedad played with 10 men from the 83rd after Brais Méndez was sent off with a straight red card.
Athletic, winless in six league games, moved to 11th. Eighth-place Sociedad was trying to win its fourth consecutive league match.
Pablo Fornals scored an 88th-minute winner to give fifth-place Real Betis a 2-1 win over 15th-place Valencia, which had won three in a row in all competitions. Chimy Ávila also scored for the hosts, three minutes after Luis Rioja had given Valencia the lead.
Seventh-place Celta Vigo drew 0-0 at 16th-place Getafe, which hasn't won in nine consecutive matches across all tournaments. Celta stayed winless in three straight games.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, center left, heads for the ball during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, left, tries a shot during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe tries a shot during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
