Stefanski’s tenure with the Browns was, overall, the most stable and successful the franchise had experienced in decades, though it was ultimately overshadowed by poor handling of the quarterback position. Despite winning Head Coach of the Year honors on two occasions, Stefanski was let go, although his rsum suggests he will not be without job opportunities around the league.
Shedeur Sanders turns a referee’s admiration into a subtle warning
Stefanski led the Browns to the playoffs in 2020 and 2023, a notable achievement considering the franchise had only reached the postseason twice since returning to the NFL in 1999. The highlight of his tenure came in the 2020 season, when Cleveland defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round, earning the organization its first playoff victory since 1995.
Everything appeared to be going well under Stefanski until the franchise made the pivotal decision to move on from Baker Mayfield after the 2021 season and instead sign Deshaun Watson to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract. That move proved to be a major failure, as ongoing injuries and inconsistency at quarterback plagued the team. Ultimately, Stefanski paid the price for that instability and was dismissed following the 2025 season.
John Harbaugh could be open to coaching the Browns
Several candidates have emerged as potential replacements, including John Harbaugh, who was recently dismissed by the Baltimore Ravens. Harbaugh is expected to draw strong interest from multiple teams in need of a head coach, and joining the Browns would allow him to remain in the AFC North. However, significant hurdles remain before such a move could become reality.
Quarterback instability in Cleveland is no secret, but according to Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot, that situation would not necessarily deter Harbaugh. “He’s believed to have legitimate interest in coaching the Browns, even with the uncertain quarterback situation and looming rebuild of the offense,” Cabot reported.
Currently under contract, the Browns have Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel heading into next season. While the quantity is there, quality remains a question mark. Sanders showed flashes of potential late in the season, but his future role is still uncertain. Watson is expected to return for the preseason after missing a season and a half due to injury.
One clear strength for Cleveland remains its defense, led by Myles Garrett, who recorded a historic 23 sacks in a single season, surpassing marks set by Lawrence Taylor and T.J. Watt. That defensive foundation could be a major selling point for any incoming head coach.
