Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski declined to comment on his job security after a 20-18 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals in the team’s finale.
The victory moved the Browns to 5-12 this season and gave the team back-to-back wins against divisional foes to close out a turbulent year. The expectation is that the Browns will move on from Stefanski, but he declined to comment on his job status following the victory.
“This game is not about me. I told you guys that. I’m proud of this group,” Stefanski said.
It was an emotional locker room despite nothing being at stake in the season finale. The Browns will not be making the postseason but picked up a last-second win against the Bengals. In addition, Myles Garrett set the NFL single-season sack record, taking down Joe Burrow late in the fourth quarter to finish with 23 sacks.
Stefanski’s only focus on the “near future” after the game was celebrating with his team.
“I’m gonna spend the next 30 minutes celebrating with this team,” Stefanski said.
Report: Kevin Stefanski to be ‘Unemployed Soon’
Things have not gone well for the Browns lately, with just eight wins over their last two seasons. Fox NFL insider Jay Glazer reported that the Browns are planning to move on from the two-time NFL Coach of the Year in the coming days.
“Kevin Stefanski will be unemployed very soon here,” Glazer said on the FOX NFL pregame show.
Reports surfaced this week that the Browns have been exploring other options if they parted ways with Stefanski.
“The Cleveland Browns have done some background work to gather information on potential head-coaching options, and are leaning toward moving on from two-time Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski,” Dianna Russini of The Athletic said. “With the success of EVP and general manager Andrew Berry’s most recent draft, he’s likely to stay, but those discussions are ongoing heading into Cleveland’s final game at the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. The Browns are 4-12 after finishing 3-14 in 2024.”
Kevin Stefanski Will Have Options if Fired by Browns
If Stefanski is let go, there’s a good chance he’ll be on another sideline next season. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Stefanski will be a top candidate during this coaching cycle if he is fired.
“This obviously is a situation where we ultimately believe he’ll be out,” Schefter said. “He’ll be one of the more sought-after candidates in this head-coaching cycle if and when Cleveland moves on from him, which I expect.”
Two head-coaching jobs are already open after the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans dismissed their coaches midseason, and the leaguewide carousel could gain more momentum once the season ends. Stefanski has already been linked as a potential candidate for the Giants’ vacancy, adding another layer of intrigue as the offseason approaches.
As Russini noted, Berry will likely remain with the Browns. He nailed the team’s most recent draft, bringing in a group of rookies that should have a long-term impact. That includes tight end Harold Fannin, linebacker and Defensive Rookie of the Year favorite Schwesinger, running backs Dylan Sampson and Quinshon Judkins, as well as defensive tackle Mason Graham.
Browns Coach Kevin Stefanski Responds to Firing Rumors After Beating Bengals