I have maintained through the 2025 season that head coach Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry won’t be fired during or after the season. I still maintain it. As I’ve said. the owner helped to and took part in the failed Deshaun Watson trade. Because of that participation, he feels it’s not fair to fire the GM and head coach. I’ve also maintained it would take the wheels to come flying off one or both to be fired. Let’s take a look at what constitutes the wheels coming off.
First let me say, Berry is safe based on not only on this past draft, which was great, but the previous two drafts which were good. League GM’s usually bat around 40 to 44 percent when drafting. It takes the entire off-season to judge a GM and Berry has made significant progress in improving the talent on the team.
For Stefanski to be fired, what defines the wheels coming off is three things.
One, losing the locker room. If there was grumbling in the locker room, everyone would know it by now. After the failed fourth downplay by Harold Fannin it would have been very easy for him to throw the blame on the coaches. He didn’t, he blamed himself. If any other player felt Tommy Rees or Kevin Stefanski were to blame, social media would be on fire. The players buy into his system and the coaching staff.
Two, outside voices calling for Stefanski’s head. Sure, there’s a segment of Browns fans who want him gone now. But most wanted him gone last year or think he was the central figure in bringing Watson to Cleveland. Yes, there are local media types who have him fired already, but they’re “doom and gloom” merchants who use their extreme opinions to get attention. I pay no attention to individuals who market themselves just to deceive the fans. Nationally, you see nothing. When Adam Schefter says it, then I’ll listen. Hell, even Mary Kay Cabot is reporting he’ll be back.
Three, the attention monger click baiters are having a field day. This starts with the stupid garbage the Sanderites are spreading. Conspiracy theories aren’t facts. Fact is, Sheduer Sanders is not an NFL ready QB. I really don’t care what Dillon Gabreil’s girlfriend thinks. I’m glad Jerry Jeudy yelled at Sanders on the sideline. He was open several times and Sanders didn’t even look his way. Are we really mad because Sanders might get his feelings hurt. If he’s upset about getting yelled at, then play better or find another profession. The fact is, this was the best game the Browns offensive line has played and that’s coming off a good game against the Raiders. Sanders had an average of 3.35 seconds in the pocket to throw the ball. That’s the best time for a Browns quarterback in two years. On one play from the endzone he had 4.96 seconds and missed a totally open David Njoku streaking across the field after he beat the linebacker. And what was up with the third and twenty-six late in the game, when Sanders had plenty of time to throw, but instead ran for six yards and sat down. some will point out he had a good first half, but how much was that the running game. On the Browns only touchdown drive, they ran the ball for nine plays, at one point eight straight.
Because of the current system for hiring coaches, the Browns would have to wait till a team is done in the playoffs. Their choices now are college coaches or retreads. I still can’t believe a local Cleveland radio station was calling for the team to hire Lane Kiffin, the biggest quitter in football. A new coach may come in and get rid of the current staff. Bye-bye Jim Schwartz. He may not want to deal with the whole Sanders situation and cut him and Dillon. Then the team is back to no quarterback. If you want one of the eligible rookies in the 2026 draft, there’s no guarantee any of them will be good right away. Do you think the local media and click baiters will have the patience for that? No, they’ll run them out of town too. Then we’re back to disfunction function.
Finally, please don’t say Mike Tomlin. You want to fix the offense with Tomlin? He makes terrible hires, and the Steelers haven’t scored 14 points in the first quarter in 68 straight games. 68 straight games. The Browns will bring both Berry and Stefanski back next year and if this continues, they both will be fired at the end of 2026. If you want an example of what not to do, look at the Browns next opponent, the Titans. Fired their coach, none of the player want to play for the interim coach and they’ve basically started making their off-season plans. Add, to that, they were supposed to have drafted a generational talent at quarterback. They look lost. Stay safe and Go Browns.