Kevin Stefanski has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the Cleveland Browns.
"We have tremendous gratitude for Kevin's leadership of the Cleveland Browns over the last six seasons," Managing and Principal Partners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said in a statement. "He is a good football coach and an even better person. We appreciate all his hard work and dedication to our organization but our results over the last two seasons have not been satisfactory, and we believe a change at the head coaching position is necessary. We wish Kevin, Michelle and the Stefanski family all the best in the future. Andrew Berry will continue to lead our football operations. The entirety of our focus is on building a team that brings our fans the success they long deserve, and we will continue to work relentlessly towards that goal and invest whatever resources necessary to build a winning football program. Andrew will immediately begin our thorough process to find an outstanding new head coach and leader of our football team. We have an exciting young core to build upon, and Andrew and his team are intent on adding talent to this core and building out a roster that can achieve sustainable success."
Stefanski was first hired by the Browns as head coach on Jan. 13, 2020. In his first season, Stefanski led the team to its first playoff appearance since 2002 and first playoff victory in 26 years. He notched the most wins (11) by a first-year Browns head coach since Paul Brown had 12 in the team's inaugural season in 1946. Stefanski's 11 regular season wins were the most by a first-year head coach in 2020 and marked just the 11th time since 1970 a first-year coach has won 11 or more games.
He led the team to two total postseason appearances and two 11-win seasons in six seasons. Stefanski joined Pro Football Hall of Famer Paul Brown (1951 and 1953) as the only coaches in team history to record multiple seasons with at least 11 regular season wins.
Stefanski became the 16th coach to win the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year award multiple times since its inception in 1957. He won the honors in 2020 and 2023 and joined Forrest Gregg (1976) as the only Browns coaches to win the award.
"This was a difficult decision and today is a tough day for our organization because of the impact Kevin has had and the deep, meaningful relationships he has built across our building," Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry said in a statement. "We have great respect for Kevin, who has led our organization through both unique and challenging circumstances over his six seasons. Over that time, he has been more than a coach but also a partner, friend and stabilizing force for our team. He has always led authentically and cared deeply for Browns players, coaches and staff all while investing every ounce of energy into improving the team daily. Most recently, Kevin's steady hand led us through the most turbulent part of our strategic pivot and transitional period. Working with a young team and imperfect roster, he laid a foundation of professionalism while also creating an environment of learning for a new wave of Browns players. I am disappointed that we could not accomplish more together and the collective underperformance of our group is something I own. We will remain steadfast in our commitment to our fans in building the Browns into an organization that sustains success. Now, our attention turns to the search for the person to lead and develop what will be a young offense with heavy investment over the next six months to match and build on the performance of a young defense that is already playing at an elite level."
The Browns ended the 2025 season with a 5-12 record. Stefanski finished his tenure with the Browns with a 45-56 record over six seasons.
"After six seasons as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns, I leave with an immense sense of gratitude," Stefanski said in a statement. "When I arrived in January of 2020, this organization, this community and Browns fans embraced me and my family with open arms. I cannot express properly in words how good we have been treated. A sincere 'Thank You' to everyone who I have been so blessed to work for and with over these six seasons. I'd like to especially thank my coaching staff and the players who did everything that was ever asked of them. They fought through injury and adversity, while always putting the TEAM FIRST. I wish all of you nothing but success."
