The Browns are in a tailspin, and Sunday’s 31-3 loss to the Bears only deepened the crater. Now sitting at 3-11 on the season and 6-25 since the start of 2024, Cleveland’s struggles have gone from frustrating to downright alarming. And with each passing week, the spotlight on head coach Kevin Stefanski gets a little hotter.
Stefanski, who once seemed to be the stabilizing force the Browns had long been searching for, is now facing questions about his future in Cleveland. After posting a respectable 37-30 record over his first four years - including a Coach of the Year nod and a playoff win that felt like a turning point - the wheels have come off in a big way.
Naturally, the speculation around Stefanski’s job security is growing louder. But when asked about it during a Monday video conference, Stefanski stayed locked in on the immediate task at hand.
“I don’t get into those type of things,” he said. “My focus, our football team’s focus, is solely on the Buffalo Bills.
Obviously watching the tape today, that’s our focus. That’s all we really care about.”
It’s a classic coach response, but also a telling one. Stefanski knows the noise is out there. And while he’s not addressing it directly, the reality is hard to ignore: the Browns have been one of the league’s least competitive teams over the past two seasons, and that kind of record rarely comes without consequences.
To put things in perspective, only Paul Brown and Blanton Collier have coached more games in Browns history than Stefanski’s 98. That’s rare company - legends in the franchise’s lore.
If Stefanski returns in 2026, he’s in line to pass Collier for second on that list. But that’s a big “if” right now.
The Browns’ front office has some tough decisions to make. Stefanski has shown he can win in Cleveland - no small feat given the franchise’s history - but the recent slide has raised questions about whether he’s still the right voice in the locker room. Injuries, inconsistent quarterback play, and defensive lapses have all played a role, but at some point, the results speak loudest.
For now, Stefanski is focused on preparing his team for a matchup with the Bills. But with the season spiraling and the losses piling up, the clock may be ticking on his tenure in Cleveland.