Kevin Stefanski handed over play-calling duties last season despite having won two Coach of the Year awards this decade. With Tommy Rees now stepping into the offensive coordinator role for the Browns, Stefanski is returning to a role he knows well.
Stefanski confirmed, via Tony Grossi of TheLandOnDemand.com, that Rees will begin his tenure as a non-play-calling coordinator. While Stefanski acknowledged he could change his mind, the sixth-year head coach has significant experience leading the offense himself. Ken Dorsey also started last season without play-calling responsibilities, but after another disappointing chapter in the Deshaun Watson experiment, Stefanski handed him the reins. Although Jameis Winston provided some relief during an otherwise dreadful campaign, the Browns’ offense fell far short of the production seen during playoff runs led by Baker Mayfield and Joe Flacco. With Cleveland now preparing to move on from Watson after his second Achilles tear, Stefanski will be responsible for turning things around.
The Browns’ offense dropped from 10th in scoring in 2023 to last in 2024, as Watson failed to bounce back despite changes to the system. Stefanski initially resisted benching the high-priced quarterback, but the team stumbled to a 1-6 start before Watson suffered his first Achilles injury. Although Watson performed slightly better in 2023 under Stefanski, he has never regained his Houston form, turning the Browns’ blockbuster 2022 trade into one of the NFL’s biggest misfires.
Despite the team’s struggles, Stefanski secured a contract extension after capitalizing on Flacco’s late-season resurgence. He had previously earned praise for revitalizing Mayfield’s career in 2020, helping the Browns end a 17-year playoff drought and finish 14th in scoring. Although Mayfield’s performance declined in 2021 due to injury, Stefanski managed to get solid production from Jacoby Brissett in 2022 before Watson’s post-suspension struggles created more challenges.
With Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry retained despite a 3-14 finish, they now face the challenge of finding a new quarterback. Thanks to a string of losses with inexperienced quarterbacks Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe, the Browns hold the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming draft.
Although prospects like Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders may not be on the same level as last year’s top quarterbacks, Cleveland has a valuable opportunity to draft one of the best available options without having to trade up, offering a crucial chance to rebound from a disastrous 2024 season.
