Don't Let Haslam Fool You, Stefanski's Job Is STILL on the Line!

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski won't have to worry about his job status entering Thursday night's game, in spite of the team's 2-8 record.

Stefanski is expected to remain as Browns head coach in 2025, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Thursday's edition of The Insiders.

Speaking with reporters this week while speculation surrounding his job status was swirling, Stefanski wasn't fretting about the proverbial hot seat. As he put it, growing up around Philadelphia listening to talk radio made him smart enough "to not worry about outside noise," even with the Browns coming off an 11-win season and a playoff berth in 2023.

"I get that's part of this gig," Stefanski said Tuesday when asked if he's concerned about losing his job, via ESPN. "That's life in the big city. My sole focus is getting this team ready to get a win on Thursday night. That's it." On the upcoming The Insiders Thursday, Rapoport conveyed his surprise that Stefanski was even asked about his job security.

"This seems wild to me," Rapoport said. "He is the reigning Coach of the Year, and not only that, he also had prev"Kevin Stefanski did not forget how to coach football. He just had an unfortunate performance, including the fact that Deshaun Watson had, you know, certainly the worst year of his career and then got injured and obviously the same last year. This is the same Kevin Stefanski that led a team with Joe Flacco as a starting quarterback to the playoffs."

According to what Rapoport is hearing, Stefanski projects to be the Browns' head coach in 2025.

"Kevin Stefanski, to my knowledge, based on everything I know, is not going anywhere," Rapoport said. "I assume people will still be asking. It has been an unfortunate season. They don't have the results they wanted. But I would be beyond stunned if Kevin Stefanski was not the Browns' coach next year."

Injuries have been a major part of the Browns' struggles in 2024. Prior to getting hurt, Watson's discouraging play also was a big factor. The Browns' defense, one of the best in the NFL a year ago, also has slipped significantly. In short, a lot has gone wrong.

Stefanski is a two-time AP NFL Coach of the Year winner, earning it in his first season of 2020 and also in 2023 after leading the Browns to a four-win improvement from the year prior. Interestingly, those are his only two winning seasons in his fifth year at the helm. A loss Thursday night against the Steelers would guarantee the Browns finish this season with a losing record.

It would also drop Stefanski to .500 as an NFL head coach. Entering Thursday night's game, Stefanski's coaching record in Cleveland is 39-38 (.506 win percentage).

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[GRASSNBASS]

I’d also like to know how many coaches kept their jobs the following year after finishing a season with 3 wins or less?

[bigredd]

I am still bothered that stefanski kept playin' injured Mayfield and not the $6M backup.

[jameselsasser]

Excellent post. The bar has been set so low by previous regimes. Stefanski Berry and Depodesta need to be out on their cans
Get a football mind in there to bring in talent....Louis Riddick??

[mark]

Good to see G. Bush coming around on Stefanski.

[curiousmoon]

The Browns real philosophy is... we need to bring in someone who can bring QB4 out of this slump. 2 more yrs until freedom

[bigredd]

Berry and stefanski need to go, Vrabel next up.

[DawgcityClev]

3-11 he should've been fired. It's been 5 years. Teams that win fire Coaches with more wins. It's all about standards. Cleveland has low standards.

[trippeddownthestairs]

G Bush, I actually disagree that Kevin Stefanski's job is still on the line. Should it be? Absolutely! (I personally would have fired him after the 2022 season, and I haven't changed my mind about that.) However, Jimmy Haslam tried for YEARS to find a head coach and GM who are so weak and passive that they are willing to involve JW Johnson, Jimmy Haslam, and Paul DePodesta in every decision that the organization makes on a daily basis. Jimmy Haslam would rather lose football games and keep his clutch of beta males together than he would step aside and empower football people to make decisions.

[scottwilk]

In 5 years, a sub 500 record, 1 playoff win with one of if not the highest payrolls, very mediocre. Depodesta and Berry at the very least gotta go and nice guy Stefanski can go too. This regime is a failure

[michaelmorena]

Stefanski is probably more suited to be an O.C. than head coach. After 5 years the team is in worse shape today than when he was hired. Berry should be out the door also, probably more than Kevin. Browns are seasons away from fixing this and that’s even if they can build a winner

[williammurray]

Paul Dipodesta Is The Goddam Problem Kevin Stafanski Is Just The Fall Guy

[chrisc]

What about DePodesta and Berry. Those two have destroyed the Browns future. Why no reports about these two stooges getting fired?!?!?!

[GRASSNBASS]

2nd in penalties last year. 2nd to last in TO differential this year and leading the league in pre snap penalties by 10. 2 of 50 AB draft picks are extended contracts on roster

[GRASSNBASS]

How many COY award winners have 3 wins or less the following year after winning the award?

[titansrule]

this job aged stefanski 15 years in just 5. haslam needs to donald sterling himself and see his way out. if that means losing the browns again.. so be it because the job he and randy lerner did in the past 20 years has been abysmal.

[gse]

Some people make great Soldiers but Bad Generals. Stefanski is best suited as an OC, Not a HC.

[temped]

Fire everyone again. Draft another Qb. The Browns are the Browns. 😂. Please get Stefanski fired. He deserves a ownership that will let him do what he does. A real fanbase that doesnt change like the wind. Players that are actually good and WANT to win. Not just get paid. Yes let him go and win. Cleveland IS Cleveland.

[robgrace]

It’s time for the great people of CLE to boycott the Browns. It’s time to organize a protest march against Haslam. Season ticket holders should invest their money in the Guardians and Cavs. Seriously, Haslam is moving the Browns out of CLE. The area is too small to build something outside of downtown and from what I remember growing up in Cleveland Heights, no one goes downtown. Why would they want to go to Brook Park? Enough is enough! March and protest! We need Vrabel! We, the people of CLE NEED VEABEL! Look what Dan Campbell is doing in Detroit with John Dorsey. All of our good players were drafted by John Dorsey, fire them all!

[TroyStevens]

Coach may have the respect of the players, but does he command respect from the owner? In other words, if he gets pushed around so easily that he fires AVP and plays dw4 when he doesn't want to... there's no way the owner respects him. Haslam wouldn't do that to Vrabel.

[dominicdosch]

Barber Shop, G Bush
I look at the last game of 2023 and the first game of 2024. 5 years into this and
This team is a disaster. Jed Wills a healthy scratch common. The first round draft picks are not good. The coaching is not good. If Cleaning house means loosing Myles Garrett. I still can’t see why I would give Berry Stetankski another chance. It’s like you say G Bush we always behind. If Berry & Ski are on the hot seat for next year, get rid of them now. If a Qualified competent coach sat down with a new GM and cared about keeping Myles, they could
Do what good coaches do and keep Garret. But I bet after 5 year of Ski ball
Myles ain’t gonna be sold no BS by a car salesman.