Baker Mayfield and Kevin Stefanski may no longer be Cleveland Browns, but their shared history in Northeast Ohio still casts a long shadow - and now, it’s resurfacing in a very public way.
The latest chapter in the Mayfield-Stefanski saga unfolded on social media, where Mayfield called out his former head coach for not reaching out after he was traded to the Carolina Panthers in 2022. That silence, according to Mayfield, spoke volumes. And with Mayfield now in Atlanta and set to face Stefanski twice a year in the NFC South, the tension isn’t just lingering - it’s officially back on the schedule.
Enter Joe Thomas, the Browns' Hall of Fame left tackle and longtime voice of reason in Cleveland football circles. Thomas didn’t hold back in defending Stefanski, pushing back on Mayfield’s comments and offering a reminder of how things really played out during that turbulent stretch in Browns history.
Let’s be real: the Mayfield-Stefanski relationship was rocky from the start. It wasn’t just a clash of personalities - it was a disconnect in communication, leadership, and expectations.
Mayfield, the former No. 1 overall pick, often struggled with consistency and accountability, both on and off the field. His confidence - sometimes bordering on defiance - didn’t always sit well in a locker room that needed more stability than swagger.
On the flip side, Stefanski wasn’t exactly a master of player relations either. Once a player landed in his doghouse, it was tough to get out.
He had a system, and if you didn’t fit it - or didn’t buy in fully - you were on the outside looking in. That dynamic created tension not just with Mayfield but with others during his time in Cleveland.
Now, with both men on new paths - Mayfield leading the Falcons and Stefanski taking over in Atlanta as well - the Browns are left watching from afar. And what’s interesting is how Cleveland fans have started to re-evaluate Mayfield’s time with the team.
With his career revitalized and strong starts to recent seasons, there’s been a wave of nostalgia, even revisionism. Some fans are wondering if the team gave up on him too soon.
To his credit, Mayfield has done the work. He’s battled through injuries, changed teams, and rebuilt his game.
He’s matured as a quarterback, and at times, as a leader. But let’s not rewrite history.
His time in Cleveland was a rollercoaster - flashes of brilliance, yes, but also stretches of underwhelming play and off-field distractions. The highlight reel doesn’t always tell the full story.
As for Stefanski, his tenure in Cleveland had its moments too. He helped guide the Browns to their first playoff win in decades and brought a sense of structure to a franchise that desperately needed it. But the cracks started to show, and his ability to connect with key players - including his quarterback - became a recurring issue.
Now, both are getting fresh starts in Atlanta, and the irony is hard to ignore. The coach and quarterback who couldn’t quite make it work in Cleveland are now NFC South rivals, each trying to prove they were never the problem.
In the end, maybe it was just the wrong pairing at the wrong time. The Browns needed a reset, and so did Mayfield and Stefanski. The drama may still linger on social media, but on the field, the future is finally moving forward - for all parties involved.