The Cleveland Browns appear to be trending toward a decision on the future of head coach Kevin Stefanski as the team approaches the final game of the season.
Stefanski’s status has become a significant question mark after the Browns managed just seven wins over their last 33 games. The two-time NFL Coach of the Year has navigated a turbulent stretch in Cleveland, marked most notably by ongoing instability at quarterback.
According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the organization has begun laying the groundwork for a potential coaching change and is leaning toward moving on from Stefanski.
“The Cleveland Browns have done some background work to gather information on potential head-coaching options, and are leaning toward moving on from two-time Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski,” Russini said. “With the success of EVP and general manager Andrew Berry’s most recent draft, he’s likely to stay, but those discussions are ongoing heading into Cleveland’s final game at the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. The Browns are 4-12 after finishing 3-14 in 2024.”
Browns Unlikely to Trade Kevin Stefanski
Since being hired in 2020, Stefanski has gone 44-56 as the head coach of the Browns. He’s navigated some difficult situations in Cleveland and is still well respected around the league despite recent struggles. If let go, Stefanski would be a top candidate to land a job elsewhere. It’s led to chatter that the Browns could look to trade Stefanski. However, Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated said the rare move appears unlikely.
“Speaking of the Browns, there was some league-wide chatter about the potential of a Kevin Stefanski trade— ‘smoke,’ as one industry source put it — though the mechanics of a coaching trade are extremely difficult to pull off and, at least as of Friday, it didn’t feel imminent or even expected,” Orr said. “That said, at the very least it shows how highly Stefanski might be positioned in this coaching cycle if he was a rising coordinator. The ball will be in Cleveland’s court to manage a situation in which they have an asset who is coveted by other teams.”
Meanwhile, Stefanski has declined to discuss his job security or his feelings on the future.
“As you know and you guys know, this game is never going to be about one person, and that includes me,” Stefanski said.
Browns Star Myles Garrett Does Not Back Kevin Stefanski
Another concerning development for Stefanski was the absence of public support from the Browns’ most influential player, Myles Garrett, who stopped short of offering a vote of confidence in his head coach.
“I mean, like anything, we’ve had ups and downs. Unfortunately, more downs than ups,” Garrett said. “Would have loved to make a little bit more noise in some different years, especially this year with how well we’ve been playing on defense, but got to continue to grow and find ways to improve. This team has too many talented individuals not to.”
When asked whether he favored continuity with Stefanski over a coaching change, Garrett stopped short of endorsing it.
“I want things to be successful. However that looks,” he said.
The Browns wrap up their season on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.
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