Kevin Stefanski finds himself in an unusual position as head coach of the Cleveland Browns this season.
On one side, the team’s performance has been abysmal. Sitting at 2-8 before their Week 12 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football, and coming off a heartbreaking loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 11, the Browns appear far from a competent football team.
On the other side, much of the offensive struggles can be attributed to Deshaun Watson. Watson, who began the season as Cleveland’s starting quarterback, had statistically been the league’s worst QB before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury. Stefanski has faced significant challenges at quarterback. Although the team found some success with Joe Flacco last season, they are now relying on an inconsistent Jameis Winston to lead the offense, leaving Stefanski with limited options.
Despite the team’s struggles, Stefanski appears to have job security for now. General Manager Andrew Berry suggested during a bye week press conference that Stefanski would return for 2025.
However, Ian Valentino of The 33rd Team believes Stefanski could still find himself on the hot seat heading into 2025.
This isn’t entirely surprising given the NFL’s rapid turnover, but Stefanski’s inclusion on such lists, alongside names like Matt Eberflus, Doug Pederson, and Mike McCarthy, raises eyebrows. Like Stefanski, Brian Daboll has also dealt with poor quarterback play and significant injury setbacks, leading to speculation about his future.
While both coaches seem safe for 2025, the NFL’s volatile nature means neither is guaranteed to stick around if their teams decide to make sweeping changes.
That said, the Browns have shown no signs of pursuing another rebuild.
Following the Watson trade debacle, which has hampered the team for three seasons, Cleveland seems hesitant to make another drastic move. However, if Berry is dismissed as GM, Stefanski’s fate could also hang in the balance.
Meanwhile, NFL insider Josina Anderson has hinted at widespread changes across the league, cryptically noting that multiple head coaches and GMs are on the chopping block.
Among the two, Berry appears more likely to lose his job. His poor draft record and role in the Watson trade, which has left the Browns without cap flexibility and few free-agent options, place him under greater scrutiny. Berry’s failures could ultimately cost him his role, leaving Stefanski’s future uncertain in the process.
