Browns fire Kevin Stefanski: Cleveland makes change amid unrest at quarterback, offensive struggles

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The Cleveland Browns have been searching for stability at quarterback since Baker Mayfield left the team following the 2021 NFL season. While the team has experienced at least one major high point since then, its inability to find a starter at the league's most important position may have cost head coach Kevin Stefanski his job.

The Browns reportedly fired Stefanski on Monday, according to Ian Rapoport. The move comes after the team went 5-12 in 2025, one of the worst records in the NFL. 

It was always going to be a transition year for the Browns in 2025. While the defense was expected to be strong, the offense lacked an answer at quarterback. The Browns entered training camp with four quarterbacks on the roster, 40-year-old Joe Flacco, Pittsburgh Steelers washout Kenny Pickett and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.

Pickett was shipped out before the regular season began, leaving Flacco as the default choice to open the year as the team's starter. It didn't go well. Surrounded by an underwhelming cast, Flacco tossed two touchdowns against six interceptions in four games before being traded to the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals. He seemed to find the fountain of youth with his new club, throwing multiple touchdowns in his first four games with the team.

With Flacco gone after just four games, it was clear the Browns were playing for the future. Gabriel was inserted as the team's starter, but didn't wow in his starts. Despite Gabriel's struggles, Stefanski seemed hesitant to turn the reins over to the much-hyped Sanders, who was eager to prove he can play after experiencing one of the most shocking falls in NFL Draft history in April.

A Gabriel concussion eventually opened the path for Sanders to assume the starting role. The rookie had moments of promise under center — a three-touchdown performance against the Tennessee Titans being the high point — but wasn't able to lead the team to wins. With the season lost, it was determined Stefanski had to go. 

While the end of Stefanski's run was disappointing, his tenure didn't start that way. Stefanski showed promise immediately after taking over the Browns, leading the team to an 11-5 record in his first season. The Browns disappointed the next two seasons due to a Mayfield injury and an ill-advised trade for Deshaun Watson, but Stefanski still managed a 26-24 record in his first three seasons.

Watson was underwhelming again in 2023, but an injury opened the door for Flacco to work some magic. The veteran, then-38, went 4-1 down the stretch, resuscitating his career and leading the Browns to the playoffs with an 11-6 record. The magic didn't last and the team was crushed 45-14 by the Houston Texans in the wild-card round.

Since then, the team's inability to find a useful quarterback doomed the offense. The Browns went 3-14 in 2024. Watson once again struggled before tearing his Achilles, forcing the Browns to start a combination of Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe down the stretch.

Watson has spent the entire 2025 season rehabbing from that injury, though it's unlikely he would have saved Stefanski's job had he played. The Watson trade has proved to be among the worst in NFL history considering his numbers and contract since joining the franchise. The Browns took a massive risk in acquiring Watson — who was essentially benched by the Texans in 2021 after being accused of sexual misconduct by a number of women. After going through with the trade, the team then gave Watson a fully-guaranteed, $230 million contract. He's rewarded the team by tossing 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 19 games, a far cry from his numbers with the Texans, where he made three straight Pro Bowls after an excellent rookie season.

The Watson saga would have been enough to get most coaches fired eventually. And while the decision to bring Watson in may not have been Stefanski's call, the coach stood by Watson even after it became clear he was no longer the same player. The front office didn't exactly give Stefanski better options after Watson faltered, saddling Stefanski with career backups and also rans. If not for Flacco's miraculous comeback year in 2023, Stefanski may have found himself out of a job sooner. 

Even with the team's struggles the past two years, Stefanski leaves the organization as one of the most successful Browns coaches in recent memory. His .440 winning percentage is the best by a Browns coach who has coached at least 10 games since Bill Belichick led the team to a .450 winning percentage over 80 games. Belichick's last game with the team occurred in 1995. 

Given his previous success as an offensive coordinator, and relative success with the Browns despite being put in some tough spots, Stefanski could find himself in the conversation for another head-coaching role in the offseason. If that doesn't come to fruition, Stefanski will almost certainly be picked up as an offensive coordinator.

Stefanski was far from blameless for the Browns' struggles, particularly near the end of his run. But leading Cleveland to two playoff appearances in six seasons proves he has some ability. That should be enough to earn Stefanski a another shot at being a head coach, maybe even sooner than later. 

As for the Browns, the team has a few tough decisions ahead of it. Cleveland not only has to choose the right coach to lead the team back to prominence, but that coach will have to decide whether Gabriel or Sanders can be the future at quarterback.

If not, the Browns could find themselves with yet another option at quarterback to start the 2026 season.

This story will be updated.