The Cleveland Browns finished the season fighting, but the final whistle did little to quiet the noise surrounding the organization. Late wins offered brief optimism, yet behind the scenes, the direction felt unchanged. A reckoning was coming, and it arrived quickly.
Kevin Stefanski’s departure had been brewing for weeks. Even after a surprising Week 17 win over the Steelers, his postgame words sounded less like confidence and more like reflection. The tone was respectful, almost careful, as if he understood the situation might already be decided.
Shedeur Sanders shuts down ‘Stefanski sabotage’ question with class after Browns win
Stefanski leaves Cleveland as one of the most accomplished coaches the franchise has had in decades, a two-time AP Coach of the Year who helped guide the Browns to a long-awaited playoff breakthrough. But his exit also reopens unresolved questions about how the organization arrived at its current state.
“From what I was told, he didn’t want that trade made
New reporting adds context to a franchise-altering decision
According to CBS Sports analyst Pete Prisco, Stefanski was never in favor of the trade that has defined the Browns’ struggles since 2022. “From what I was told, he didn’t want that trade made,” Prisco said when discussing the team’s decision to acquire Deshaun Watson.
Few moves in the NFL have aged worse. Cleveland sent a massive package of draft picks to the Houston Texans and then handed Watson a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract. The bet was enormous. The payoff never arrived.
Watson has started just 19 games across four seasons, posting a 9-10 record while battling injuries and inconsistency. Two Achilles injuries and long stretches off the field have left the Browns with limited production and a looming $80.7 million cap hit in 2026.
The trade also marked the end for Baker Mayfield in Cleveland. Mayfield helped Stefanski lead the Browns to the playoffs in 2020, including a Wild Card win over Pittsburgh that felt like a turning point at the time. Stefanski won Coach of the Year honors that season. It now feels like a different era.
Owner Jimmy Haslam has publicly admitted the Watson trade was a mistake, telling The Athletic last fall that the organization is still suffering from it. At the time, there was even speculation that the fallout from the deal might buy Stefanski more time. Instead, the opposite happened.
“A big trade we made didn’t work out you know, we’re all suffering from that. Kevin, I thought, really did a great job of rallying the troops last week at a critical time.
Now Stefanski is gone, Watson’s contract remains, and general manager Andrew Berry stays in place. The report about Stefanski’s opposition does not change the past, but it reframes it. As the Browns search for yet another head coach and still lack clarity at quarterback, it offers a revealing glimpse into how internal disagreement may have shaped one of the league’s most costly decisions.
