Jerry Jeudy took to social media after the Cleveland Browns closed out the season with a 20-18 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Browns closed the season on a high note, sealing the win on a 49-yard field goal from Andre Szmyt as time expired. Jeudy finished with just two catches for 17 yards, but one of them proved pivotal.
Facing third down late in the game, Jeudy secured an 11-yard reception that kept the eventual game-winning drive alive. The catch didn’t come easily, with Jeudy bobbling the ball before pulling it in.
It’s been a challenging year for Jeudy, who was coming off his first Pro Bowl selection. He caught just 50 passes for 602 yards and two touchdowns this season as the Browns cycled through three different quarterbacks. After Sunday’s win, Jeudy delivered a cryptic message on social media.
“Y’all just don’t know,” Jeudy said with crying laughing emojis. “And it’s so funny to me.”
Jerry Jeudy, Browns Face Offseason of Uncertainty
Given the timing, the message appears to be team-related, though its exact meaning remains open to interpretation. It could be a reference to the uncertainty surrounding Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, who is widely viewed as being on the hot seat.
“Kevin Stefanski will be unemployed very soon here,” Jay Glazer said on the FOX NFL pregame show.
It may also allude to his at-times tense relationship with quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Or, more broadly, it could be a reflection on his own future with the franchise following a down season. Jeudy caught some heat online for his effort against the Bengals.
“I hope the league sees what Jerry Jeudy is putting on tape this season. Nobody should want him on their roster,” one fan said. “He’s uninterested in giving effort and it’s killed the team over a dozen times this season.”
Another added, “Jerry Jeudy is LITERALLY not even trying.”
Browns WR Fan of Browns Coach Kevin Stefanski
With the season now over, the most pressing question in the immediate future is whether or not Stefanski will remain at the helm for the Browns. Leading up to Week 18, Jeudy said the locker room was focused on the Bengals and not the rumors.
“We don’t focus on it basically. We ignore all the outside stuff because 99% of it is wrong,” Jeudy said. “We just focus on what’s in the locker room.”
Jeudy backed Stefanski for his steady approach regardless of circumstances.
“He’s been the same coach since I’ve been here, through the ups and downs. He never changed and always stays consistent,” Jeudy said. “That’s all you can ask for from a coach.”
Browns veteran Shelby Harris also backed Stefanski after the season-ending win.
“It’s hard to get coaches that are human. You get lost in this football stuff. Kevin is a human. Every decision he makes has a human element to it,” Harris said. “That does so much in this league for your players and coaches. He’s loved by his players and coaches.”
If Stefanski is let go by the Browns, he’s expected to be one of the top candidates to land another job.
Browns WR Jerry Jeudy Sends Cryptic Message Immediately After Season Ends