After Painful 17-16 Collapse to Bengals, Cleveland Browns Reportedly Make Stunning Early Call on Head Coach Kevin Stefanski’s Future
The Cleveland Browns opened their 2025 season with heartbreak, watching a dominant performance slip away in a 17-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. What made the defeat even more agonizing was the way it unfolded: Cleveland outplayed the Bengals in nearly every statistical category yet still found themselves walking off the field empty-handed. Now, in the aftermath of that collapse, the organization’s stance on head coach Kevin Stefanski has already sparked headlines across the NFL.
From the opening whistle, the Browns looked like the better team. They outgained Cincinnati 327 yards to 141 and held the ball for nearly 36 minutes. Quarterback Joe Flacco was efficient for most of the game, spreading the ball around to Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore, and David Njoku. On the ground, Jerome Ford kept the chains moving while Nick Chubb chipped in with his trademark physical runs. Defensively, Myles Garrett and Za’Darius Smith were relentless, suffocating Joe Burrow and limiting the Bengals’ high-powered offense to a mere 104 passing yards.
By every measure, Cleveland looked like the superior side. And yet, they still lost.
The reason was clear: costly mistakes on special teams. Rookie kicker Andre Szmyt, who won the starting job over veteran Dustin Hopkins during the preseason, had a nightmare debut. He missed an extra point that would have tied the game early, then shanked a 36-yard field goal in the final minutes that could have sealed a victory. Those errors overshadowed an otherwise strong team performance and instantly ignited a firestorm of criticism.
In his postgame remarks, Stefanski addressed the situation directly. “Andre has had a really strong camp and earned this opportunity,” he said. “We’re not going to overreact after one game. But you can’t leave points on the field in this league. That has to improve.”
His words reflected both patience and frustration, but the larger conversation quickly shifted beyond the kicking unit. Rumors surfaced that the Browns’ front office had already evaluated Stefanski’s future after the loss, and while no move is imminent, the early chatter around the coach’s long-term job security is undeniable.
For many fans, the situation feels like déjà vu. Cleveland has cycled through kickers and head coaches for more than two decades, struggling to find consistency in the moments that define close games. Sunday’s collapse was particularly painful because it came against a divisional rival the Browns had every opportunity to beat.
Still, the organization appears intent on standing by Stefanski—for now. Reports suggest the “decision” isn’t about dismissal, but rather a renewed internal commitment to his leadership despite the crushing loss. The Browns believe they have a playoff-caliber roster, and moving on from a head coach after just one game would be rash.
The real test will be how Stefanski and his team respond in Week 2. If the Browns can clean up their mistakes and secure a victory, the noise will quiet. But if the miscues continue and losses pile up, that “early call” on Stefanski’s future may become more than just speculation.
For now, Cleveland remains a team with all the tools to compete—but also all the pressure in the world.
