Kevin Stefanski could also be on the proverbial scorching seat within the social media world, however it seems the Cleveland Browns’ head coach isn’t in any hazard of being dismissed after this season.
The Browns have badly underachieved with a 3-8 document however have gained two of their previous 4 video games, each in opposition to AFC North rivals within the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.
And the win over the Steelers got here in frigid, snowy situations through which a foul workforce may fold.
Cleveland even blew a 12-point fourth-quarter lead in opposition to Pittsburgh however remained engaged and recovered for a 24-19 victory. That is a workforce that’s nonetheless taking part in extraordinarily onerous for its head coach.
Stefanski definitely hasn’t been nearly as good a coach as final season, when he gained 11 video games and was named NFL Coach of the 12 months for the second time in 4 seasons. The Browns have misplaced 4 video games by a minimum of 16 factors.
Getting blown out that many instances is rarely a very good factor.
However humorous, the workforce appears extra cohesive now that Deshaun Watson is out for the season with an Achilles’ tendon damage.
Watson has been an enormous $230 million mistake, and his repute is even worse, with greater than two dozen therapeutic massage therapists accusing him of sexual misconduct.
It doesn’t matter what gamers say outwardly, simply know that many speak otherwise in non-public to one another about Watson and are not impressed together with his off-field habits.
So maybe the actual choice is whether or not or to not go one other route at quarterback and half methods with Watson.
In that case, discover your quarterback of the longer term and go together with Jameis Winston because the bridge sign caller till the teen is prepared.
I take a look at these two 11-win seasons the Browns loved underneath Stefanski and take into consideration how Cleveland did not actually have a single successful season from 2008-19.
It’s possible you’ll recall they skilled the embarrassing winless season in 2017 whereas going 1-31 in two seasons underneath Hue Jackson.
At that tempo, it might have taken Jackson 22 seasons to get 11 complete wins.
Or how about that playoff victory over the Steelers underneath Stefanski in 2020? That marks the lone postseason win in 25 seasons since this model of the franchise started play in 1999.
Granted, issues did not go properly final January because the Browns had been clobbered 45-14 by the Houston Texans within the AFC wild-card spherical.
Stefanski is 40-38 with the Browns, and his earlier worst document for Cleveland is 7-10 in 2022.
The Browns must actually rally to achieve seven wins this season, however maybe splitting their closing six video games and ending 6-11 is doable.
The one actual technique to think about letting Stefanski go can be if the workforce completely collapses down the stretch and finishes 3-14 or 4-13.
After all, proprietor Jimmy Haslam is not identified for his persistence, so maybe this season is disappointing sufficient for him to make a transfer.
In that case, he must take inventory of a few of the coaches the Browns have had over the previous 16 seasons.
Freddie Kitchens. The aforementioned Jackson. Mike Pettine. Rob Chudzinski. Pat Shurmur. Eric Mangini.
None of these guys had a single successful season.
Stefanski won’t ever be the subsequent Paul Brown, however he is definitely a greater coach than anybody on that record.
These two 11-win seasons—for THIS franchise—ought to say all of it.
Deliver again Stefanski and provides it yet one more go. If he underachieves in 2025, then present him the door.
However for subsequent season, Stefanski is clearly one of the best man for the job on the shores of Lake Erie.
