Browns Locker Room Backs Stefanski, But the Clock Is Ticking in Cleveland
The Cleveland Browns are staring down the final stretch of a brutal season - one that’s seen them tumble to a 6-26 record since the start of 2024. And yet, amid the frustration and mounting losses, a few key veterans are still standing tall, not just in performance but in leadership.
Myles Garrett. Denzel Ward.
Joel Bitonio. Between them, they’ve racked up 11 first- or second-team All-Pro selections and 19 Pro Bowl appearances.
That’s not just talent - that’s elite-level pedigree. These are players who would be cornerstones on any NFL roster.
But in Cleveland, their brilliance has been overshadowed by a franchise that simply hasn’t figured out how to win consistently.
And that brings us to Kevin Stefanski.
Now in his sixth season as head coach, Stefanski’s job security is under intense scrutiny as the Browns prepare to host the Steelers in their final home game of the year. The pressure isn’t just coming from the outside.
It’s baked into the results. One playoff win.
A string of double-digit loss seasons. And a fanbase that’s watching other once-struggling teams - like the Bears, Jaguars, and Patriots - flip the script and punch playoff tickets just a year after cleaning house.
That’s the backdrop to Sunday’s game. But here’s the twist: this Browns team, for all its youth and injuries, hasn’t quit. Just last week, they nearly pulled off a stunner in Buffalo, falling short in a 23-20 battle that showed fight, if not the finish.
Bitonio Stands by His Coach
After the game, Denzel Ward - fresh off another Pro Bowl selection - called on fans to stick with the team. It was a subtle show of support for Stefanski, even if he didn’t name names.
Joel Bitonio, however, didn’t hold back.
Bitonio’s been the Browns’ rock on the offensive line for over a decade. He’s seen the bad years, the worse years, and the brief glimmers of hope. And with retirement possibly looming, the 34-year-old made it clear this week: he still believes in Stefanski.
“I think he's a good football coach,” Bitonio said. “We have not won, and he will tell you first-hand winning matters in this league and we haven't done that. But as a coach goes, I have the highest respect for him, what he's done here.”
Bitonio didn’t sugarcoat the record. He knows the team hasn’t met expectations. But he pointed to the bigger picture - two playoff appearances, a pair of winning seasons, and a locker room that hasn’t tuned out its coach.
“I think if we get the right pieces and we keep improving, I think that’s a guy you can build around,” he added. “Two-time Coach of the Year.
He has the respect of his peers. I think you saw it this last week - the team is motivated to play.
We’re trying to win games.”
That last part matters. For a team with nothing to play for in the standings, the effort in Buffalo was telling.
That wasn’t a team mailing it in. That was a team still fighting - for pride, for jobs, and maybe for their coach.
A Complicated Decision Ahead
Of course, locker room support only goes so far. The NFL is a results-driven league, and 26 losses in 32 games is a hard number to ignore. Even with the front office’s missteps - from the all-in gamble on Deshaun Watson to the lack of a viable Plan B at quarterback - the head coach ultimately wears the record.
There’s also the reality that if Stefanski were to be let go, he’d instantly become one of the more attractive names on the coaching market. That speaks to how he’s viewed around the league - and why this decision isn’t as cut-and-dry as some fans might think.
Still, the optics are tough. Stefanski inherited a solid foundation back in 2020.
And six seasons later, the Browns have just one playoff win to show for it. That’s not the trajectory ownership envisioned when they handed him the keys.
Looking Forward
The Browns do have reasons for optimism. There’s a strong core of veteran talent, a promising crop of young players, and a draft war chest that includes 10 picks in 2026 - two of them in the first round. That’s the kind of setup that could fuel a quick turnaround.
But the question is: who’s steering the ship?
Bitonio’s loyalty to Stefanski is admirable. He’s earned the right to speak his mind, and his voice carries weight in that locker room. But even he acknowledged the uncomfortable truth: “We are not where we want to be.”
And that’s really the heart of the matter. The Browns have pieces.
They’ve had moments. But they haven’t had sustained success.
And after six years, it’s fair to ask whether the current regime has run its course.
So as Cleveland takes the field one last time at home this season, the scoreboard won’t be the only thing people are watching. The bigger question is whether this is the final chapter of the Stefanski era - or just another bump in a journey that still has unfinished business.