The Opening Drive 12/5: Reaction To Two National Reports On Stefanski - What They Aren't Saying?
Fowler and Breer each wrote about Stefasnki's future this week, but neither address his biggest issues.
The Browns are heading into a critical offseason filled with decisions that will shape the organization’s direction for years to come. Head Coach Kevin Stefanski is on the hot seat with a 6-23 record over the last two seasons, a stretch marked by abysmal offensive football.
The Browns are heading into an offseason in which they will likely take a legitimate swing in the NFL Draft at one of the top quarterback prospects in an attempt to land their franchise quarterback. The defense is loaded with talent, and if Andrew Berry keeps his job, then they will likely keep the core of that group in place while trying to overhaul the offense.
This week, Jeremy Fowler released a report suggesting that Stefanski would likely be a top candidate to land another head coaching job elsewhere in the NFL if fired by the Browns.
This year’s candidate pool is considered weaker than in previous years, which benefits a coach with Stefanski’s credentials,…If let go, Stefanski would have the option to pursue a head-coaching job right away or take a year off, which worked brilliantly for Mike Vrabel after his Tennessee departure. That typically depends on what might be open a year from now, the viability of the candidate and whether that coach is simply burned out and needs a year. But the two jobs currently open (Giants and Titans) could use a mix of offensive acumen and experience, a mold that Stefanski fits.
Another AFC Executive has this to say about Stefanski: “He’s a good coach, experienced, two-time Coach of the Year — Cleveland is a hard place to win. He might need a fresh start elsewhere.”
Meanwhile, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer has maintained that Stefanski is safe for another year in Cleveland and hit on that topic again this week:
To me, the reason it won’t happen is because it took nearly a decade for Jimmy Haslam and his family to find the right structure and mix of people to run their football operation. The combination of Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry delivered playoff berths in Year 1 and Year 4, and the bumps since can be connected back to the organizational decision to trade for Deshaun Watson. As such, one bad year needs to be considered with context.
The flip side is that the structure will change a bit with Paul DePodesta (seen by many as the man behind the curtain, with ownership’s ear, for the Browns) off to run the Colorado Rockies. My understanding is that the Browns won’t replace him with a new chief strategy officer, but it raises questions about whether his absence will lead to a more thorough review of how they build.
Alright, I’ll give you a verdict. Stefanski and Berry get another year and a chance to build off a really good 2025 draft class, with two first-round picks to work with in April, and a big quarterback question to answer.
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It is understandable how teams could still view Stefanski as a good option, considering all that went on during his tenure — from two playoff appearances to the Deshaun Watson trade and the subsequent fallout that led to where things are today. Executives likely don’t hold him fully accountable for the Watson move, given how many teams around the league showed interest at the time. There will certainly be questions about why it didn’t work, but some of that has to fall on Watson.
It has also seemed that Stefanski has lacked the organizational power to make certain decisions with his own staff, including the choice to fire Alex Van Pelt and bring in Ken Dorsey to better align the offense with Watson’s play style.
However, at the coaching level — where evaluators can dig into the offensive film from the last two seasons — there is a clear departure from what Stefanski was doing earlier in his tenure to what he has been running during this stretch of losing. He appears schematically behind the rest of the league and is failing to build on his own past success or sequence plays intelligently. All of this is something Jake has done a good job highlighting on the website through film breakdowns.
There are many teams dealing with injuries and poor play along the offensive line, yet they find ways to address their weaknesses and mitigate their impact through smart play-calling and schematic creativity. This is where Stefanski has fallen short over the past two seasons.
While the best offenses in the NFL are putting their players in positions to succeed, Stefanski has struggled to do the same with the Browns’ offense.
It is fair to point out that he has not been given strong options at quarterback, and allowing him some influence on a third-round selection as the answer to the most important position in the sport is not an adequate solution. Still, those taking a closer look at Stefanski’s body of work as an offensive architect, play designer, and play caller will find it lacking in comparison to some of the work he showcased earlier in Cleveland.
The executive’s quote about Cleveland being a hard place to win could refer to obstacles Stefanski has faced that we are not privy to, the organization’s 25 years of instability, or some combination of both — and that context could help some around the league view him in a different light.
Still, there are serious questions about accountability, and frankly, Stefanski’s voice has lost its impact and is growing stale in Cleveland. Sometimes, teams simply need a new voice. Beyond that, those who really drill into his recent body of work would walk away with justified concerns about his performance as the leader of an NFL offense.
There is something to be said for bringing in a new quarterback with a new offensive mind rather than one who is fighting to keep his job. A new coach arriving with a new quarterback creates a healthier runway for development, while the alternative could foster a situation in which the best interests of the coach and player do not align — whether in development, timeline, or both.
What happens with Andrew Berry is an entirely different conversation. Still, given the way the Browns are financially constructed and the buffer he serves as between football decisions and Haslam, I lean towards seriously considering keeping him in place.
It is easy to see how NFL executives could view Stefanski positively. He has a pedigree, polish, and some experience winning. His even-keeled manner and coach of the year awards help his case, but those who dig deeper and evaluate his work on the field may uncover the reasons why I and others in Cleveland feel it’s time to move on.
There are other angles and considerations to talk through as the Browns make this decision, and we will continue to work through them here at Browns Film Breakdown.
Browns Film Breakdown will return soon with some fresh All-22 weekend content.
"To me, the reason it won’t happen is because it took nearly a decade for Jimmy Haslam and his family to find the right structure and mix of people to run their football operation."
So, Albert Breer thinks the Browns have found the right structure and mix of people to run their football operation. LOL