Cleveland Browns Announce Head Coach Change

The Cleveland Browns have officially announced that Kevin Stefanski has been relieved of his duties as head coach after six seasons with the team. This decision was disclosed on Monday, following a period marked by mixed results under his leadership.

Gratitude for Leadership Amid Struggles

Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam expressed their gratitude for Stefanski’s contributions, stating, "We have tremendous gratitude for Kevin's leadership of the Cleveland Browns over the last six seasons. He is a good football coach and an even better person. We appreciate all his hard work and dedication to our organization but our results over the last two seasons have not been satisfactory, and we believe a change at the head coaching position is necessary." They further wished Stefanski and his family the best in their future endeavors.

Future Now in General Manager’s Hands

Despite the coaching change, the Haslams confirmed that General Manager Andrew Berry will remain in his current role. The owners emphasized that Berry will begin a thorough search for a new head coach, aiming for an individual who can lead the team into a new era. "We have an exciting young core to build upon, and Andrew and his team are intent on adding talent to this core and building out a roster that can achieve sustainable success," they stated.

Stefanski’s Journey with the Browns

Stefanski, 43, took the helm of the Browns in 2020 after a long tenure with the Minnesota Vikings, where he was the offensive coordinator. His inaugural season in Cleveland was notably successful, culminating in an 11-5 record, which ended a 17-year playoff drought and secured the team’s first playoff victory since 1994. His efforts earned him the NFL Coach of the Year award that same year.

However, Stefanski struggled to maintain that early success, with the team missing the playoffs in the subsequent two seasons, finishing with records of 8-9 and 7-10, respectively. Although the Browns bounced back to 11-6 in 2023, resulting in a playoff appearance and Stefanski's second Coach of the Year nod, the trajectory took a downward turn again in 2024 with a record of 3-14, the worst since 2017, followed by a 5-12 finish in 2025.

Looking Ahead

With the Browns now seeking a fresh start, Stefanski's future remains open. Having demonstrated the ability to achieve success with challenging rosters, he may find opportunities with other NFL teams, either as a head coach or an offensive coordinator.