The Cleveland Browns have fired head coach Kevin Stefanski, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. Dee and Jimmy Haslam released a statement on Monday.
"We have tremendous gratitude for Kevin's leadership of the Cleveland Browns over the last six seasons," the statement reads. "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..."
The firing of Stefanski brings with it a large set of questions. Who will be the next head coach? And what will happen at the quarterback position, specifically Shedeur Sanders? According to CBS NFL insider Jonathan Jones, the Browns are preparing for Sanders to start in 2026.
"The Browns will select in the top 10 of April's draft but will likely be out of the range for a quarterback like Fernando Mendoza," Jones writes. "Sources say the Browns are preparing for Sanders to be their starter next season, hoping to build around the quarterback and get better results in Year 2. What coaching candidate the Browns will be able to attract is a big question hovering over the organization. The coach will need to believe in Sanders, as well as in the front office to deliver on offensive line and receiver acquisitions. Sources have said that a coach with options may not have the Browns high on his list."
Sanders threw seven touchdowns to 10 interceptions in his first season in Cleveland. The Browns went 2-4 in his six starts after he replaced Dillon Gabriel.
If starting Sanders in Week 1 of the 2026 season is what happens, the Browns need to get him better weapons. Cleveland currently has one of the worst collections of pass-catchers in the NFL, and it would be hard for any quarterback to succeed with what they have out wide, much less a fifth-round rookie.
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