Scripture tells us that a prophet is respected everywhere except in his hometown.
Could that be the case with Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski?
Quite possibility, if you look outside Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, where he is starting to come under some real criticism for, at least record-wise, his less-than-stellar performance over his first five years.
A few weeks ago, in a ratings list put together elsewhere, Stefanski was deemed the 10th-best head coach in the NFL.
Whoa!! Firmly entrenched in the top 10 coaches, huh? OK.
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Then last Saturday, as the backups from the Browns were dominating those from Super Bowl champion Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field early in the second preseason game, the legendary Merrill Reese, who has been the Eagles’ radio play-by-play announcer for nearly 50 years, and color analyst Mike Quick, a former wide receiver for the team, commented on what they were seeing.
“This is a well-coached and well-prepared team,” Reese said of the Browns. “Kevin Stefanski is doing a great job calling plays for his young quarterback, Dillon Gabriel.”
Added Quick, “Yes, he is. That’s obvious.”
It was a joy to hear those two call the game. It was professional, smooth and informative. As such, they would not have said that unless they meant it.
And with it, plus that rating, perhaps we need to take a closer look at Stefanski. Indeed, with the way the 2-0 Browns, beginning a major rebuild, have opened the preseason, he deserves that.
🟤 Top Five Kevin Stefanski Highlights with the Cleveland Browns
1. 2020 Playoff Win over the Steelers
- In his first season, Stefanski led the Browns to their first playoff appearance since 2002.
- Despite being stuck at home with COVID, he coached the team remotely all week as the Browns went into Pittsburgh and stunned the Steelers 48–37 in the Wild Card round — their first postseason win since 1994.
2. 2020 NFL Coach of the Year
- After finishing 11–5 in his debut season, Stefanski was named the AP NFL Coach of the Year.
- It was the Browns’ best record since their rebirth in 1999 and set the tone for a new culture in Cleveland.
3. 2023 Turnaround Amid QB Chaos
- The Browns lost Deshaun Watson, Nick Chubb, and multiple offensive linemen to injuries, but Stefanski kept the team afloat.
- He guided Cleveland to an 11–6 record with five different starting quarterbacks, including Joe Flacco, who was signed midseason.
4. 2023 NFL Coach of the Year (Again)
- Stefanski won his second Coach of the Year award in four seasons, joining a short list of multi-time winners.
- It cemented his reputation as one of the league’s best at adapting to adversity and maximizing talent.
5. Building a Balanced Identity
- Under Stefanski, the Browns established a physical identity: a run-first offense (when healthy with Chubb) paired with an elite defense led by Myles Garrett.
- His offensive schemes (heavy play action, creative use of tight ends, motion) have kept Cleveland competitive even with roster instability.
✅ Summary: Stefanski’s highlights show two themes — resilience in the face of chaos and changing the culture. He delivered Cleveland’s first playoff win in decades, rebuilt the franchise’s credibility, and proved in 2023 that he can win under almost impossible circumstances.
Steve King
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