The Cleveland Browns have terminated the contract of head coach Kevin Stefanski following a disappointing 2025 season. The decision, announced on Monday, comes after the team finished with a 5-12 record, marking their second consecutive last-place finish in the AFC North and their fourth losing season under Stefanski’s leadership.
In a statement, Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam expressed gratitude for Stefanski’s contributions over the past six years. “We have tremendous gratitude for Kevin’s leadership,” they said. “He is a good football coach and an even better person. We appreciate all his hard work and dedication to our organization, but our results over the last two seasons have not been satisfactory, and we believe a change at the head coaching position is necessary.”
Despite his previous successes, including leading the Browns to two playoff appearances and winning the NFL Coach of the Year award twice, the team’s performance in recent seasons has been troubling. From 2020 to 2023, Stefanski achieved a winning percentage of .552, the highest for the franchise over a four-year span since 1986-1989. However, the Browns struggled significantly in the past two seasons, posting a combined record of 8-26.
Andrew Berry, who has served as the team’s general manager since 2020, will remain in his position. The Haslams emphasized their commitment to building a successful team, stating, “The entirety of our focus is on building a team that brings our fans the success they long deserve.”
The search for a new head coach will begin immediately, with Berry tasked with finding a leader capable of harnessing the potential of the young roster. The Browns have a promising core of players and aim to add more talent to foster a winning culture.
Stefanski’s departure marks the second significant change within the organization in recent months. Paul DePodesta, who served as the chief strategy officer for nearly a decade, left in November 2023 to take on a new role as the president of baseball operations for the Colorado Rockies.
Reflecting on his time with the Browns, Stefanski expressed his gratitude in a statement. “I leave with an immense sense of gratitude,” he said. “I cannot express properly in words how good we have been treated… I wish all of you nothing but success.”
During his tenure, Stefanski posted a regular-season record of 45-56 and guided the team to the playoffs in both 2020 and 2023. Notably, he led the team to its first postseason victory since 1994, defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild-card round, although he did not coach that game due to a positive COVID-19 test.
The Browns’ struggles in recent years have been particularly evident on the offensive side of the ball, an area where significant improvements were anticipated given Stefanski’s background as a play caller. This season, the Browns scored fewer than 20 points in 11 games, tying for the most in the league. Following their Week 9 bye, Stefanski handed over play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, marking the second consecutive year he relinquished that responsibility.
Cleveland’s quarterback situation has also been unstable. The team utilized three different starting quarterbacks in 2025. Joe Flacco began the season but was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals after a 1-3 start. Dillon Gabriel, a third-round pick, started six games before suffering a concussion, leading to rookie Shedeur Sanders taking over the final stretch of the season.
The Browns are also dealing with the ongoing situation of Deshaun Watson, who has faced a series of injuries since his arrival. After being traded to the Browns in March 2022 and signing a fully guaranteed $230 million contract, Watson has only participated in 19 games due to suspensions and injuries. He was placed on the physically unable to perform list for the beginning of the 2025 season after recovering from a torn Achilles tendon.
With the search for a new head coach underway, the Browns are determined to turn their fortunes around and build a competitive team that can meet the expectations of its loyal fanbase.
