Being an NFL coach is certainly financially rewarding, which is good, because it is otherwise a thankless job. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski is a good example. He has twice won the league’s Coach of the Year Award, yet there are many in Cleveland–and perhaps well beyond–who feel he lacks the four brain cells it would take to have for a game of bridge. Those people frequently express those opinions on social media and sports radio, sometimes in impolite terms. Stefanski takes the abuse but is, at least, paid around $4 million per year for it.
Amid a year in which Stefanski has faced accusations not only from internet trolls but also from high-profile former players and professional talkers–the main accusation being that he has held back quarterback Shedeur Sanders to the detriment of the team as part of an individual agenda/vendetta–it could well come as a surprise to many that Stefanski is actually well thought-of around the NFL.
And according to insiders at ESPN, if the “Fire Kevin Stefanski!” crowd gets its wish this offseason, then Stefanski almost certainly will be hired elsewhere.
Kevin Stefanski Has Won Coach of the Year Twice
Stefanski led the Browns to an 11-5 record and a playoff appearance in 2020, and an 11-6 record with a playoff appearance in 2023. The first came with Baker Mayfield at the helm, and Stefanski’s rocky relationship with Mayfield was one of the problems that eventually led to Mayfield’s regrettable departure. The second playoff appearance came when the team stitched together a quarterbacking situation with five different players, winding up with Joe Flacco.
Around the NFL, that’s the kind of thing that front-office types remember about Stefanski. That may shock the legion of anti-Stefanski fans around the Browns.
In fact, if the Browns follow through on firing Stefanski, one AFC executive told ESPN, “He’s a good coach, experienced, two-time Coach of the Year — Cleveland is a hard place to win. He might need a fresh start elsewhere.”
GettyShedeur Sanders #12 of the Cleveland Browns talks to head coach Kevin Stefanski during the second quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Browns Could Fire Kevin Stefanski This Offseason
When this Browns season mercifully ends, site insider Jeremy Fowler writes that Stefanski may be looking for the escape hatch as much as owner Jimmy Haslam.
Fowler writes: “Kevin Stefanski’s future comes up often in my conversations with people in the league due to the Browns’ 6-23 record the past two seasons. Another reason his name comes up: Several executives and coaches I’ve spoken to believe he’d be a prime candidate for a head coaching job elsewhere should Cleveland move on after the season.”
Stefanski could easily take a year off and see how the landscape looks going forward. But some help-wanted outfits would suit him: “The two jobs currently open (Giants and Titans) could use a mix of offensive acumen and experience, a mold that Stefanski fits.”
Browns Facing Cam Ward This Week
Of course, Stefanski has his focus on trying to finish this year out with the Browns and seeing if something can be done with Sanders at the helm. But it’s worth noting that this week’s opponent is the Titans, who have Cam Ward at quarterback. The Browns had eyes for Ward in last year’s draft, and as Fowler said, they need a coach.
Stefanski was asked about Ward this week.
“He has a ton of talent, and you see it on tape,” Stefanski said. “Some of the throws, the extended plays can really fit it into tight windows. Have a lot of respect for his mind and how he thinks about the game. So he presents quite the challenge.”
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