Browns Fire Head Coach Kevin Stefanski After Six Seasons
The Cleveland Browns fired head coach Kevin Stefanski after six seasons, following playoff appearances and a playoff win, as the team launches a coaching search.
Overview
Kevin Stefanski was fired as head coach of the Cleveland Browns after six seasons, ending a tenure that included playoff appearances and a pair of Coach of the Year honors.
The firings reflect a broader NFL trend of coaching changes this season, with four coaches let go, signaling teams reevaluating leadership ahead of future seasons.
Stefanski guided Cleveland to playoff runs, and under his leadership the Browns earned a 2020 Coach of the Year award and a 2023 nod.
Cleveland's first playoff win since 1994 came in a 48-37 victory over Pittsburgh, a milestone cited in assessments of the franchise's improved performance.
Andrew is launching an immediate, thorough search for a new head coach and leader who can guide the Browns forward in the coming seasons.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story around a narrative of dysfunction and accountability. They emphasize Stefanski’s alleged culture-building despite a failing franchise, highlight quarterback instability as the root issue, frame the Watson trade as a costly misstep, and present ownership’s evaluation and timing as the decisive, corrective outcome.
Sources (4)
FAQ
Stefanski was fired after leading the Browns to back-to-back poor seasons, including a 4-12 record in 2025 and potentially 3-14 the prior year, marked by a struggling offense despite his past successes like playoff appearances and two Coach of the Year awards.
The Browns had dismal records of around 3-14 in back-to-back years, with a 4-12 finish in 2025, one of the worst offenses in football, and ugly blowout losses, despite earlier playoff runs and a 2020 playoff win over Pittsburgh.
Potential candidates include Chris Shula (Rams DC), internal options like Tommy Rees or Jim Schwartz, and others like Brian Flores, Jeff Hafley, Ben Johnson, Liam Coen, and Robert Saleh.
The Browns are preparing to start Shedeur Sanders, a former fifth-round pick and polarizing rookie, in 2026 following Stefanski's firing.
General manager Andrew Berry is expected to be involved in the thorough search for a new head coach.
History
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