Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski knows how unforgiving the NFL can be. With pressure mounting on his own job, Stefanski took a moment to reflect on the harsh reality of coaching after the New York Giants fired Brian Daboll on Monday.
Daboll was dismissed after compiling a 20-40-1 record in New York, a move that came a day after the Giants blew a double-digit lead in a 24-20 loss to the Chicago Bears. The Giants fell to 2-8, while Stefanski’s Browns sit at 2-7 — a mark that has sparked similar scrutiny in Cleveland.
“You don’t like to see that,” Stefanski said. “You always feel for anybody out there who’s going through that type of thing.”
Daboll was the second coach fired this season. Tennessee Titans skipper Brian Callahan was let go after the team started 1-5. There’s speculation that Stefanski could be the next coach to be let go.
The Browns have not only lost games, but also done so in some stunning ways. Sunday’s 27-20 loss to the New York Jets was the latest example. The Browns allowed a pair of special teams touchdowns, and undisciplined penalties cost Cleveland late. It also came against the Jets, a team that appears to be tanking after trading away two Pro Bowl players at the deadline.
“We’re going to win as a team and lose as a team. But some of the moments in that game are extremely disappointing in terms of how that game unfolded,” Stefanski said. “Obviously, you can’t give up two return touchdowns. That set us back and we didn’t do a good enough job in any facet. That’s the disappointing part for me and this football team. But we’re just going to keep swinging.”
Browns Back Bubba Ventrone After Jets Loss
The two return touchdowns proved to be backbreakers for the Browns in their loss to the Jets. In addition to the criticism aimed at Stefanski, there were growing calls to fire special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone following the defeat.
“When you have a punt return touchdown and a kick return touchdown right after you score, what more do we need?” 92.3 The Fan’s Ken Carman said. “Because his name is Bubba and he played for the Browns we were excited about this, please anybody take his clown show away.”
However, Ventrone does not appear to be going anywhere. Stefanski backed his special teams coach during his press conference on Monday.
“I have a ton of faith in Bubba and a ton of faith in our special teams,” Stefanski said. “We have to be better. There are ways we can try to be better. We’ll continue to coach our guys hard and give them the techniques to use. I trust our guys and that we’ll get back to work.”
Browns Star Myles Garrett Not Giving Up
The Browns have less than a 1% chance of making the postseason, per The Athletic. It’s a disappointing reality with eight games still to play, but star pass-rusher Myles Garrett is determined to make sure nobody in the locker room lets up.
“I don’t care how you feel, you’ve got to suit up,” Garrett said. “It’s still an opportunity and still a chance. We still have what, eight more games. You never know what can happen. I’m going to make sure that there’s no quit in this team. I haven’t seen it before. It’s not going to happen now. So I’m going to make sure everybody mans up and still knows exactly what the directive is.”
Garrett and the Browns have a chance to turn things around on Sunday as they host the Baltimore Ravens.
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