Browns Brass Reveals Reasoning Behind Kevin Stefanski's Dismissal

Change found its way to the Cleveland Browns doorstep at 76 Lou Groza Boulevard in Berea on Monday morning. Following a morning meeting with team brass, Kevin Stefanski was told he was being relieved of his duties as head coach, one day after leading his team to an upset win the Cincinnati Bengals to finish the 2025 campaign 5-12. 

Shortly after the news of Stefanski's dismissal broke, team owner Jimmy Haslam held a press conference to address the major shake-up in leadership. What it ultimately came down to – as most NFL coach firings do – was, simply, winning. 

"There's nothing more fun than winning an NFL game like we did the last two weeks, beating our archrival Steelers two weeks ago and then winning yesterday on the last play of the game and seeing the joy in the locker room. And there's nothing more distasteful than losing an NFL game. And it's finite," Haslam began.

"To win eight games in two years is horrible. It's totally unacceptable, okay? It's not going to continue. And I want the fans to know we are as frustrated as you are, and we hear a lot from our fans, which we actually appreciate. We have great fans. They're extremely passionate and they deserve better than what they've got in the last two years." 

Stefanski seemingly ushered in a new era in Cleveland when he arrived in 2020, taking the team to the playoffs for the first time since 2002. Over his six years in charge, he posted a 45-56 record, but the last two years in particular proved costly, where Stefanski went 8-26. 

The NFL is a results based business at the end of the day. For Haslam, the results weren't there. 

"We are going to give you a better product," he vowed. "Our sole goal here is to be a consistent winner, not make the playoffs in ’20 and then make it again in ’23, not win eight games in two years. That's not what we're trying to do. That's not acceptable. Our fans deserve better." 

Those comments were echoed by general manager Andrew Berry, who survived the carnage despite the team's lack of talent at key positions, particularly on offense. He's expected to lead the search for the team's next head man. 

"Coming into this season, we were realistic that we were a team and a roster in transition," Berry said. "And ultimately, this decision is born from the fact that we've 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 in that bucket as well." 

Berry developed a tight-knit relationship with his Stefanski over their six years together. He tried to convey just how much parting ways with his long-time "thought partner" weighed on him. 

"Kevin's like family," said Berry. "I remember when I told my four -year-old daughter, Eden, I was like, 'Hey, there's a chance that Coach Kevin, he may not be coaching the Browns anymore.' And she looked at me and she goes, 'Well, will he play with us still?' And I share that story because when you talk about relationship or partnership, that's a lifelong connection for me and him. It goes beyond football. So if you ask how was the relationship from the start to how it was today? He's family." 

Haslam also called it one of the hardest decisions he's ever had to make in his 13-plus years owning the franchise. 

"This was as difficult as any we've ever had to make because of the quality of the person involved," he said. Organized, worked hard, navigated our ship for six years through the inevitable ups and downs that we face in the NFL. Outstanding father and husband. And I think even you all who are around a lot probably underappreciate how much time we all spend together." 

So, how did a pair linked to each other contractually and otherwise end up split up when struggles hit? Particularly given the state of the roster Berry has assembled since his time joining the organization. 

"I think Andrew over the last year has done a very good job," Haslam asserted. "And I want to go through that because I think it's important to talk about the moves he made to strengthen our team." 

Haslam went on to explain key moves Berry made in 2025, such as the free agent acquisition of Maliek Collins, the blockbuster draft night trade to move from No. 2 overall to No. 5 overall, and the star-studded draft class that followed it. It's a group that includes the likely Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger. 

While the roster lagged way behind most in the NFL overall, a strong 2025 offseason is at the root of Berry being retained. With Stefanski gone, though, the 38-year-old's biggest decisions await him this offseason. 

"I think we have a lot of important decisions coming up," admitted Berry. "I think probably the two most important decisions that can be made by an organization are head coach and quarterback. So whichever order you want to put it in, I think that's fair. But look, my focus, I'm 100% dedicated in terms of finding the right person that continue to lead our franchise forward."