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Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski is on the hot seat.
The Cleveland Browns have at least done exploratory research on replacing head coach Kevin Stefanski, per a prominent NFL insider.
Stefanski’s job security with the Browns has been a topic of conversation this season, as the team has stumbled to a 4-12 record. Cleveland is coming off a 3-14 campaign in 2024. However, Stefanski is well respected around the league and is a two-time NFL Coach of the Year. He just hasn’t been given much to work with — particularly at quarterback — in recent seasons.
NFL insider Jeremy Fowler of ESPN highlighted Cleveland as a team that has researched what it would look like if they moved on from Stefanski and if his potential successor would be an improvement.
“There are some 50-50s out there. Cleveland and Las Vegas are two places I see that they’ve done their preliminary research for a potential move,” Fowler said on “This is Football” with Kevin Clark. “Doesn’t mean they’re likely to do it or have decided yet. But those are certainly on my radar.”
Browns Coach Kevin Stefanski Mum on Future
Stefanski has declined to speculate about his future in Cleveland, sidestepping questions about his job status as uncertainty continues to swirl around the organization heading into the final week of the season.
“As you can imagine, my sole focus is on this game versus Cincinnati,” Stefanski said Monday, “but I would also tell you, I’m privileged to have this job.”
A plus for Stefanski was that the team kept playing hard in a Week 17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The victory shook up the AFC North, setting up a showdown between the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens for the division title in Week 18.
“Really proud of those guys in that football game – to be in that fight for 60 minutes and come out on top. Some really, really great efforts in that game,” Stefanski said. “Some guys stepping up into roles that they haven’t played in previously, which I was really proud of those guys as well. So, need to build off of it, you know, wanted to split that series with the (Pittsburgh) Steelers last week. We have an opportunity to split a series with the (Cincinnati) Bengals this week.”
Kevin Stefanski Will be Top Candidate if Fired by Browns
The New York Giants and Tennessee Titans are the two current openings, and there could be more by the end of the season. If Stefanski is let go, he’ll likely be considered a top candidate to land a new gig.
“Does owner Jimmy Haslam believe Stefanski is the right coach to bring a young team and young quarterback(s) into the next phase of the Browns’ build?” Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported. “If not, Haslam might opt to move on, and Stefanski would immediately become a top candidate elsewhere.”
The biggest obstacle Stefanski has faced has been instability at quarterback. The Browns’ 2022 blockbuster trade for Deshaun Watson has largely backfired, leaving the franchise in a worse position than when the deal was made. Shedeur Sanders has emerged as a possible option moving forward, but Cleveland will enter the offseason with two first-round picks — including one in the top 10 — giving the organization flexibility to pursue a highly regarded rookie.
J.R. DeGroote JR DeGroote is a staff writer for Heavy.com, where he has covered the NFL, NBA, and trending sports stories since 2019. His work focuses on some of the most passionate fanbases in sports, including reporting on the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Lakers. More about J.R. DeGroote
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