The Cleveland Browns have fired head coach Kevin Stefanski following 6 seasons with the franchise the team announced on Monday.
We have tremendous gratitude for Kevin’s leadership of the Cleveland Browns over the last six seasons,” Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam said Monday in a statement. “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.”
Cleveland wrapped up another disappointing NFL campaign this weekend with a 5-12 record, finishing in last place in the AFC North for the second consecutive season. The announcement comes less than two years after the club awarded Stefanski a contract extension. During his time with the team, the club went 45-56 as the 43 year old earned 2 NFL coach of the year awards along the way.
Despite the poor showing this season, and the salary cap hell the team finds itself in, the Haslams announced that General Manager Andrew Berry will remain in his current role.
“The entirety of our focus is on building a team that brings our fans the success they long deserve, and we will continue to work relentlessly towards that goal and invest whatever resources necessary to build a winning football program,” the Haslams said. “Andrew will immediately begin our thorough process to find an outstanding new head coach and leader of our football team. 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.”
Whomever the team tabs to be their next head coach will be the organization’s 11th since the 1999 season. During that same time frame, division rivals Pittsburgh and Baltimore have each had 2 head coaches, while Cincinnati has had 4.
“This was a difficult decision and today is a tough day for our organization because of the impact Kevin has had and the deep, meaningful relationships he has built across our building,” Berry said in a statement. “We have great respect for Kevin, who has led our organization through both unique and challenging circumstances over his six seasons. Over that time, he has been more than a coach but also a partner, friend and stabilizing force for our team. He has always led authentically and cared deeply for Browns players, coaches and staff all while investing every ounce of energy into improving the team daily. Most recently, Kevin’s steady hand led us through the most turbulent part of our strategic pivot and transitional period. Working with a young team and imperfect roster, he laid a foundation of professionalism while also creating an environment of learning for a new wave of Browns players.”
“I am disappointed that we could not accomplish more together and the collective underperformance of our group is something I own. We will remain steadfast in our commitment to our fans in building the Browns into an organization that sustains success. Now, our attention turns to the search for the person to lead and develop what will be a young offense with heavy investment over the next six months to match and build on the performance of a young defense that is already playing at an elite level.”
While both the coach and team have downplayed the issue publicly, rumours out of Cleveland point towards a potential rift between Stefanski and rookie QB Shedeur Sanders as a possible reason for the change in coaching, but not at GM. Despite the hype behind the Colorado product in the preseason, Cleveland opted to go with Joe Flacco at QB to begin the year, and then went with fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel under centre before giving Sanders his shot.
Overall, the team would go 2-4 with Sanders at the helm, as the 6’2″ signal caller threw for 1,289 yards, 7 ads, and 10 INTs. The son of Deion Sanders, Shedeur led the nation in completion percentage at 74% while at Colorado. However, he struggled to adapt to the speed of the NFL level, completing just 57.4% of his passes in his first year.
Overall, the Browns scored fewer than 20 points in 11 games in 2025 which was tied for the most in the league. With Stefanski’s calling card being on the offensive side of the football, evidently the Haslam family had seen enough and were comfortable moving in a new direction.
“After six seasons as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns, I leave with an immense sense of gratitude,” Stefanski said in a statement released by the team. “When I arrived in January of 2020, this organization, this community and Browns fans embraced me and my family with open arms. I cannot express properly in words how good we have been treated. A sincere ‘Thank You’ to everyone who I have been so blessed to work for and with over these six seasons. I’d like to especially thank my coaching staff and the players who did everything that was ever asked of them. They fought through injury and adversity, while always putting the TEAM FIRST. I wish all of you nothing but success.”
Cleveland will cast a wide net for their next head coaching hire, with some networks already floating the idea out that Deion could make the jump to the NFL coaching ranks. While that option is likely a long shot, some of the other names that have been linked to Cleveland in the immediate aftermath of the firing include Vance Joseph (DEN), Jeff Hafley (GB), Mike McCarthy, Todd Monken (BAL), and Joe Brady (BUF).
The Browns will select 6th overall during the 2026 NFL Draft as they look to right the ship in Cleveland.
Photo: Erik Drost. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.