On Monday, the Cleveland Browns took the expected step with coach Kevin Stefanski, firing him after a 5-12 season that had followed last year’s 3-14 showing. That ends six years with Stefanski running the show for the Browns, who made two playoff appearances and won two coach of the year awards, but also finished up just 45-56 with the franchise.
The Browns will begin the process of finding a new coach, and will keep general manager Andrew Berry in place as the team seeks new leadership–and, potentially, a new quarterback. Berry, speaking to the media after the firing, said that after Shedeur Sanders went 3-4 in the second half of this season as the starter, he was impressed with the progress but added that the team is not committed to bringing Sanders back as the 2026 starter.
Sanders, for his part, was just trying to soak in the news when he was asked about Stefanski.
His first reaction: “We just found out a couple of seconds ago. I think overall the mentality is, things are going to happen, that’s how the league is. And moving forward you just focus on how we can improve individually for the next head coach.”
Shedeur Sanders ‘Did What I Was Able to Do’
Whether Sanders will get that opportunity is the burning question for him and the organization. Sanders threw for 1,400 yards in eight games with 10 interceptions and seven touchdowns, posting a 68.1 quarterback rating. He did show a knack for making big plays when needed, and for inspiring his teammate during important drives–as he did in leading the game-winning field-goal drive in Week 18’s win over the Bengals.
Sanders was asked whether he thought he showed enough to warrant another chance at the QB1 job in 2026.
“I think I did what I was able to do,” Sanders said. “I definitely grew from a lot of things, and I got experience now. So I’m always the same confidence-wise. I’m there. It’s not in my hands, it’s not my decision and I can’t speak on what other people feel.”
Browns Will Focus on Finding a Quarterback
As for Berry and the firing of Stefanski, the quarterback position certainly played a role, and many have argued that had Stefanski gone with Sanders earlier in the season, he might have saved his job. Berry did not go that far but indicated that a lack of progress at the quarterback spot was a big factor in the Stefanski decision.
“Coming into this season, we were realistic that we were a team and a roster in transition,” Berry said. “We ultimately felt like we did not see enough progress in areas that were controllable independent of certain game outcomes. Everything that we do is with the idea of bringing a perennial winner to Cleveland, and this decision falls into that bucket as well.
“There are a number of different areas. I think all head coaches get evaluated on, whether it is game strategy going into the game, in-game decision-making, certainly player development if you’re a young team. The QB is obviously a big part of it but there are multiple areas—some quite frankly, I thought we did very well, others we did not see enough progress.”
Browns’ Shedeur Sanders Reveals Immediate Reaction to Kevin Stefanski Firing