The Cleveland Browns dropped to 3-9 with a loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, fueling growing calls for the team to move on from head coach Kevin Stefanski.
Cleveland battled early and briefly held an 8-7 lead before a late second-quarter field goal swung momentum back to San Francisco. From there, a combination of questionable decisions from Stefanski and a string of special-teams miscues put the game out of reach.
The most glaring error came on a fourth-down gamble from the Browns’ own 33-yard line. The play unraveled immediately, ending with tight end Harold Fannin fumbling on a direct snap. The 49ers capitalized with a touchdown on the ensuing possession.
Special teams issues compounded the damage. Cleveland surrendered a long punt return to Skyy Moore in the first quarter that set up San Francisco’s opening touchdown. In the second half, returner Gage Larvadain muffed a punt that led to another 49ers score. Malachi Corley also fielded a kickoff and stepped out of bounds at the 5-yard line, forcing quarterback Shedeur Sanders to operate from the shadow of his own goalpost.
Browns Coach Kevin Stefanski’s Performance Called ‘Reprehensible’
The Browns’ overall lack of cohesion and boneheaded mistakes led to many calling for Stefanski’s job — including some notable names.
“Just a reprehensible coaching performance by Stefanski today,” Bill Simmons wrote on X.
“This Cleveland Browns game is NOT on Shedeur Sanders. Kevin Stefanski needs to be out immediately. This has been coaching malpractice today, and pretty much the entire season. We need a new coaching regime next year if we want to even have a chance to compete in the NFL,” a fan said.
Much of the criticism surrounding Stefanski focused on how Sanders was used. That included taking him out on the fourth-down try and not letting him throw more.
“STEFANSKI DOES NOT UNDERSTAND HOW SHEDEUR CAN MOVE ON QB DRAWS AND READ OPTIONS, SO HE SHAMES AND YANKS SHEDEUR WITH THE WILDCAT. JUST DUMB. AND PETTY,” Skip Bayless said.
Sanders was 16-of-25 for 149 yards with a touchdown in the loss.
“Don’t wanna be that guy, but it looks like Stefanski is coaching against Shedeur more than he’s coaching against the 49ers defense,” a fan said.
Browns Must Make Special Teams Change
It’s not the first time this season that special teams have been an issue for the Browns. Cleveland allowed a punt and kick return against the New York Jets earlier in the season. Stefanski backed special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone after that loss.
“Listen, I have a ton of faith in Bubba, I have a ton of faith in our special teams,” Stefanski said. “We have to be better. We’ll continue to coach our guys hard. We’ll continue to give them the techniques to use, but I trust our guys.”
Ventrone might not be able to survive another special team debacle this week.
“You can probably fire the special teams coach and the guy catching the kickoff while falling out of bounds,” Zac Jackson of The Athletic said. “It’s amazing.”
The Browns will look to regroup before they face the one-win Tennessee Titans next week.
Browns Urged to Fire Kevin Stefanski Immediately After Loss to 49ers