Jimmy Haslam’s own words give a clear view of why Cleveland Browns HC Kevin Stefanski has to be on the hot seat
Things aren’t looking good for the Browns at 2-7 after losing to the Jets.
The Cleveland Browns went 3-14 last season in what was a huge disappointment after entering the year with playoff expectations. Coming into this season, expectations were tempered due to how poorly they performed a year ago and because they still lack a true franchise quarterback.
There have been some positives to take away, most notably what appears to be a stellar rookie class.
Cleveland gave a harsh reminder in Week 10 that it’s still a bad football team and that wins will be hard to come by this season. Facing the New York Jets on Sunday — a game Cleveland was favored to win — the Browns fell 27-20. The switch in offensive play-calling duties from Kevin Stefanski to Tommy Rees didn’t make much difference, and Cleveland now sits at 2-7 as a result.
Jimmy Haslam’s offseason comments are worth revisiting at this point
Cleveland is 5-22 over the last two seasons combined and is spiraling fast. There are no signs yet of a fractured locker room, but if the losses continue to pile up, that could change quickly. The Browns’ remaining schedule doesn’t offer much reason for optimism, either. Matchups with the Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans stand out as potential opportunities, but traveling West hasn’t often gone right for this team.
“Listen, we have to do better than three [wins]. To put a number on it, I don’t think we will ever do that,” Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said back in July. “Everybody — coaches, players, personnel, ownership — all know that 3-14 won’t cut it [again]. We’ve got to do better. I think we’ll know what better looks like.”
The Browns would need to win at least two more games the rest of the way just to improve on last year’s record, and that’s a tough ask. Cleveland has scored more than 20 points only once this season and ranks second-to-last in the NFL in total offense, averaging just 279.1 yards per game. It moved on from Joe Flacco early in the season after his struggles, but the switch to rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel hasn’t produced much improvement.
At some point, the Browns may need to evaluate Shedeur Sanders and see what he can do under center. For now, though, finding ways to win is the top priority. Stefanski’s seat should be extremely warm, and his job could soon be on the line. Cleveland is only two years removed from a playoff appearance and Stefanski’s second Coach of the Year award, but since that wild-card loss to the Houston Texans in January 2024, it’s been all downhill.
Frequent coaching changes have been a constant in Cleveland’s recent history, and while Stefanski initially provided stability after arriving in 2020, the Browns could be heading back down a familiar path if they can’t show some fight or improvement over the final eight games. It won’t get any easier, as the Baltimore Ravens await them at home in Week 11.
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