NEWSLETTER
The Cleveland Browns are in win-now mode. When they traded three first-round draft picks (2022, 2023, 2024), a 2023 third-rounder, and a 2024 fourth-rounder to the Houston Texans for Deshaun Watson and then signed him to a record-setting extension, the demand to win became apparent. Unfortunately, they hadn’t done enough of it under Kevin Stefanski in his three seasons as head coach.
A 7-10 season in 2022 wasn’t what Browns ownership had in mind. While Kevin Stefanski likely received a mulligan from the Browns’ front office for the 2022 season — with Watson suspended for 11 games — 2023 was a big season for Stefanski. Despite no public playoff-or-bust expectations from the Browns ownership, the writing was on the wall.
If Stefanski — who has taken Cleveland to the postseason just once since being hired in 2020 and has never finished higher than third in the AFC North — wanted another contract in Cleveland, the playoffs were a must this season.
His name was near the top of most head coach hot-seat lists during the preseason. Despite lacking resources, Cleveland put together a strong offseason to give him what he needed to succeed this year.
The Browns fired defensive coordinator Joe Woods following the 2022 season. Cleveland replaced Woods with Jim Schwartz. That move has paid off for the Browns, who arguably have the best defense this season.
Cleveland leads the league in forcing three-and-outs this season at 52.7 percent. Opponents have been held to zero or negative yardage on 43.4 percent of their snaps this season. Myles Garrett leads the NFL with 13 sacks and is playing his way into Defensive Player of the Year consideration. Actually, Garrett might be a lock to win the award at this point.
But despite having a suffocating defense to lean on, the Browns have had enough catastrophic injuries this season that to do the job that Kevin Stefanski has done is worthy of a mention in the Coach of the Year conversation.
The starting quarterback is out for the season (and missed multiple games with an injury before undergoing season-ending surgery). The starting running back has been on the shelve since Week 2.
Still, Cleveland enters Week 12 with a 7-3 record. They’re one game behind the Baltimore Ravens for first place in the AFC North. They’re firmly in the mix for a wild card spot this season.
Kevin Stefanski has led them to a 7-3 record with P.J. Walker and Dorian Thompson-Robinson starting nearly half of their games this season, with no Nick Chubb, with a depleted offensive line, and all this in one of the better divisions in all of football.
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell may have the Coach of the Year award locked up. Fellow AFC North head coach John Harbaugh is also a strong candidate for the honor. Rookie head coach DeMeco Ryans has the Houston Texans in the playoff conversation. There are some strong candidates for the honor this season. So, Stefanski may not win the award, but he certainly deserves to be in the conversation.
Even if he doesn’t win the award, he’s earned an extension from the Browns. He’s quieted the outside noise surrounding Deshaun Watson’s off-field transgressions, injuries, and a massive contract seen by many as an albatross that will set the quarterback market back years regarding guaranteed dollars. He’s navigated catastrophic injuries to his best players and put the Browns in a position to return to the playoffs.
Kevin Stefanski has gone from hot seat to hot commodity in a span of six months, and now the Browns will have to reward him for his work this season.
