Kevin Stefanski's time as the Cleveland Browns head coach came to an end after six seasons this week.
The move follows another terrible season under Stefanski, as the Browns went 5-12 and registered their second straight season where they couldn't win more than five games. Overall, the coach went 45-56 in addition to 1-2 in the playoffs. General manager Andrew Berry will remain at the helm, though, and he's tasked with finding the next head coach for the franchise.
The Browns released a statement to announce Stefanski's firing, while also providing the reason behind the decision.
Also Read: Why Browns didn't fire GM Andrew Berry with Kevin Stefanski
Browns fire Kevin Stefanski for poor results in last two seasons
In their statement, the Browns thanked Kevin Stefanski for his contribution to the franchise, while adding that recent seasons weren't satisfactory. Browns owner Dee and Jimmy Haslam wrote:
"We have tremendous gratitude for Kevin’s leadership of the Cleveland Browns over the last six seasons. 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. We wish Kevin, Michelle, and the Stefanski family all the best in the future."
Statement from Haslams. Https://t.co/UCtnbiSJO7 pic.twitter.com/5zQaYFi8Y0
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 5, 2026
One of the big reasons why the Browns failed was their quarterback position. The franchise could never really find its franchise quarterback, as they kept shuffling and trading throughout the season.
After the preseason, they traded Kenny Pickett. A few games later, when they started poorly, Joe Flacco was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals, and the reins were handed to rookie Dillon Gabriel. A concussion to the former Oregon standout opened the door for another rookie, Shedeur Sanders, who became the first Browns quarterback in this century to start his career with a win. However, by the time the season finished, he was 2-4, recording seven touchdowns against 10 interceptions.
With Deshaun Watson expected to return next year, it's finally time for the Browns to get back into contention should they get a head coach who can steer the franchise in the right direction.
More Browns News:
Three head coaches Browns could hire to help Shedeur Sanders develop after firing Kevin Stefanski
Browns' Shedeur Sanders is under pressure more than any QB since 2009