Kevin Stefanski fired: Browns’ ongoing quarterback chaos leads to coaching change after 5-12 season

The Cleveland Browns’ decision to move on from Kevin Stefanski marks the end of a tenure shaped as much by promise as by persistent instability at quarterback. Since Baker Mayfield left after the 2021 season, the Browns have struggled to find a consistent quarterback, a challenge that marked the final years of Stefanski’s tenure.The breaking point came after a 5-12 finish in the 2025 NFL season, one of the worst records in the league. On Monday, the Browns confirmed Stefanski’s firing, thanking him for his work while making it clear that general manager Andrew Berry will remain in place to oversee the next phase of the rebuild.

The Browns’ quarterback dilemma left Kevin Stefanski with few solutions

From the outset, last year felt like a transition year. The Browns expected their defense to keep them competitive, but the offense entered training camp without clarity under center.

Cleveland carried four quarterbacks: veteran Joe Flacco, former Steelers first-rounder Kenny Pickett, and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Pickett was moved before the season, leaving Flacco as the Week 1 starter by default.Flacco struggled in four starts, throwing six interceptions against two touchdowns before being traded to the Cincinnati Bengals, where he revived his season. With Flacco gone, the Browns turned to Gabriel, whose play showed effort but little consistency.

Stefanski’s reluctance to hand the offense to Sanders, despite the rookie’s draft-day slide and high profile, became a talking point as losses piled up.A concussion to Gabriel finally opened the door for Sanders. He flashed potential, most notably with a three-touchdown performance against the Titans, but wins never followed. With the season effectively lost, the organization decided a coaching change was necessary.Stefanski’s dismissal cannot be separated from the long shadow of the Deshaun Watson trade. Deshaun Watson’s $230 million fully guaranteed contract, combined with inconsistent play, left the Browns with few reliable options. Many seasons have passed, during which the Browns have had multiple backup QBs, which has made it tough for Stefanski on the offense.Despite these challenges, Stefanski guided the Browns to two playoff appearances, including an impressive 11-5 debut season and a surprise 2023 run boosted by Flacco’s late-season resurgence.

His .440 winning percentage is certainly the best in the past several decades as a coach of the Cleveland Browns.As the Browns search for their next head coach, the franchise faces familiar questions. Cleveland must decide whether Gabriel or Sanders can become a long-term solution, and whether the next coach can finally bring stability where it has been missing for far too long.Also Read: Cam Newton claims "Kevin Stefanski doesn't want Shedeur Sanders to succeed" as his rough NFL debut sparks heated debate within Cleveland Browns