Browns Fire Coach Kevin Stefanski After Six Seasons Of Missed Opportunites & Misfires

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by Matthew MendivesJanuary 6, 2026, 1:55 am >

After six years, the Cleveland Browns will go in a different direction following the firing of head coach Kevin Stefanski.

Stefanski first joined the team in 2020. He surprisingly got the Browns to the playoffs in his first season with an 11-5 record. This was the Browns’ first playoff appearance since 2002. Stefanski did not coach during the playoffs due to COVID-19 exposure. Despite this, acting head coach Mike Priefer defeated the Steelers and put up a good fight against the Chiefs.

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The Browns missed the playoffs in 2021 and 2022, but returned in 2023. Despite running old Joe Flacco at quarterback, the Browns had a top-10 offense thanks to offensive lineman Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller, wide receiver Amari Cooper and tight end David Njoku. Their defense was carried by defensive player of the year Myles Garrett. They would go on to lose the wild-card game to the Texans, marking the last playoff appearance of the Stefanski era.

What truly held the Browns back was their QB situation. The Browns gave up on Baker Mayfield after the 2021 season. They traded for Deshaun Watson to get themselves a star QB. However, a suspension for sexual abuse allegations in 2022 and injuries in 2023 and 2024 kept him out of the lineup. He missed all of 2025 after tearing his Achilles tendon in the offseason.

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Whoever the Browns hire as head coach next will need to decide whether Watson has anything left in the tank or they should fully commit to developing Shedeur Sanders.

Despite not having the best record, Stefanski did a lot of good for the Browns.

Making the playoffs twice with a roster that was a laughingstock in the 2010s is no small feat. Regardless of whom they hire as coach, the Browns need to set a direction quickly. Stefanski will likely attract interest from teams seeking head coaches, including the Giants and Raiders.