Kevin Stefanski is on the hot seat, but if the Cleveland Browns‘ skipper is fired, he’ll likely have other opportunities coming his way.
Stefanski — a two-time NFL Coach of the Year — is facing mounting criticism after the Browns fell to 2-7 with Sunday’s loss to the New York Jets. Cleveland’s offense has been largely ineffective, and a lack of discipline proved costly in yet another frustrating defeat.
If the Browns were to let Stefanski go, ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky thinks he could be a top target for the New York Giants, who fired Brian Daboll on Monday.
“The number one name I would pay attention to if I were the Giants is what happens in Cleveland with Kevin Stefanski,” Orlovsky said. “If I could handpick a guy (for this job), it would be Kevin Stefanski. He’s an outstanding coach, a two-time coach of the year. I understand people in Cleveland are saying this guy can’t coach. There’s a lot of empirical data that would say otherwise.”
Olrlovsky: Stefanski Right Fit for Giants
Daboll was fired after the Giants’ 2-8 start to the season, and blew a double-digit lead against the Chicago Bears in Week 10.
“The past few seasons have been nothing short of disappointing, and we have not met our expectations for this franchise,” Giants co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch said Monday in a statement. “We understand the frustrations of our fans, and we will work to deliver a significantly improved product.”
Orlovsky believes Stefanski could be the right fit for the Giants, pointing to his ability to bring structure to a team centered around breakout rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.
“This is a difficult spot for the Giants. I really believe that. There’s no question you need to get a guy that’s going to bring the best out of Jaxson Dart, obviously,” Orlovsky said. “But when the Giants have been their best, it’s been under a coach like Bill Parcells or a Tom Coughlin — a defensive-minded, hard-nosed, disciplinarian that’s tough and fits the culture. It’s not just offensive-centric. It’s trying to find the balance. I would go Kevin Stefanski or Jesse Minter, the defensive coordinator for the Chargers.”
Browns Coach Kevin Stefanski Could Survive Another Down Year
The Browns are already out of the playoff race and are coming off a 3-14 campaign. But there’s a chance Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry could survive another down year.
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam backed Stefanski earlier this season, citing the instability at quarterback and a failed blockbuster trade for Deshaun Watson.
“Kevin’s done a really good job with us, and we’ve had some tough breaks,” Haslam said. “A big trade we made didn’t work out, and you know, we’re all suffering from that. … You find out about leaders when things are bad, not when they’re good, and he did a good job last week.”
The Browns need to stay competitive down the stretch, but there’s reason for optimism. Cleveland holds two first-round picks in next year’s draft, offering a chance to reshape the roster, particularly at quarterback.
Stefanski and the Browns will try to turn things around on Sunday in front of a home crowd against the Baltimore Ravens.
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