The Cleveland Browns could move on from Kevin Stefanski as their head coach in 2026, and the team is linked to a surprising name.
If Cleveland does move on from Stefanski, several teams will be interested in him. But there has been no official decision on Stefanski. Yet, ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano reported the Browns are interested in Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel to replace Stefanski if they do decide to move on from their coach.
“I’m hearing conflicting things on Miami. For a while, it sounded as if Mike McDaniel was a good bet to stay. But lately the winds seem to have shifted a bit on that, so we’ll see where that lands,” Graziano wrote. “Cleveland is a spot people are keeping an eye on, with the idea that Kevin Stefanski could be a head coach candidate elsewhere if the Browns do move on.”
The Browns going after McDaniel does seem surprising, as the Dolphins’ head coach has struggled in Miami. But he’s an offensive-minded head coach, so perhaps, Cleveland’s front office wants to bring in a young, offensive head coach to pair with Shedeur Sanders or whoever the Browns have at quarterback.
McDaniel has been the Dolphins’ head coach since 2022 and led Miami to the playoffs in his first two seasons. The Dolphins failed to make the playoffs in 2024, and this season, as with one game left, McDaniel is 35-34 as the head coach of Miami.
Fellow NFL Insider Links McDaniel to Browns
Along with Graziano, ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler also has heard that the Browns are interested in McDaniel.
McDaniel’s name has come up as potentially being fired by Miami. If that is the case, Fowler expects the Browns to have plenty of interest in him.
“Stefanski might be the strongest retread candidate in the eyes of many,” Fowler wrote in the same ESPN article. “The Giants would be an ideal fit. And trades of any kind are never off the table in Cleveland. But it’d be tricky trying to trade a coach who’s 7-26 over the past two years.
“And here’s something funny: My sense is that McDaniel would be a candidate in Cleveland, should the Dolphins move on and Cleveland’s job open. He still has some support in Miami. We will see if that’s enough. He has made a case to stay.”
With all the smoke around the Browns, it does appear that Cleveland could very well move on from Stefanski at the end of the season. Meaning, for the first time since 2019, Stefanski won’t be the Browns’ head coach.
Stefanski Makes Feeling Clear on Future
Heading into Week 18, Stefanski’s future as the Browns head coach has started to come into focus.
Cleveland had another losing season, and the Browns could look to fire Stefanski. However, the head coach said he’s just focused on Week 18 and nothing else.
“Yeah, as you can imagine, my sole focus is on this game versus Cincinnati, but I also would tell you I’m privileged to have this job,” Stefanski said on Monday.
When asked if he’s had any conversations about his future, Stefanski shut it down.
“Yeah, I understand the question,” Stefanski added. “I never get into those types of discussions. All I care about is finding a way to go 1-0 versus the Bengals.”
Stefanski has gone 44-56 in his career as the Browns’ head coach.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Browns Reportedly Interested in Surprising AFC Head Coach to Replace Stefanski appeared first on Heavy Sports.