Rumored to be on faucet for this offseason, the Browns’ extension agreements with Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry are actually official. The team announced its fifth-year HC-GM combo is signed long run.
This represents uncommon territory for the Browns, who shuffled via quite a few coaches and GMs in the course of the Haslams’ first a number of years as house owners. After two playoff berths in 4 seasons, Stefanski and Berry did sufficient to point out possession they need to be on the wheel for the foreseeable future.
Rumblings of the Browns readying extensions for their power brokers emerged in March and a latest providing from cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot pointed to the offers being shut. The Browns have posted their finest four-year win share underneath Berry and Stefanski because the 1986-89 run. Though this regime has not matched the Marty Schottenheimer-Bernie Kosar groups when it comes to consistency or postseason accomplishments, it has elevated one of many NFL’s perennial doormats to a contender place.
“Regardless of dealing with a number of participant accidents and utilizing 5 totally different beginning quarterbacks, Andrew and his workers constructed a roster that tailored nicely, whereas Kevin and his workers led the group to its second playoff look in 4 years, incomes Coach of the 12 months honors for the second time in that interval,” Jimmy and Dee Haslam stated, referencing the 2023 season, in a press release. “They’re two of the brightest folks we all know, and selfless individuals who solely care about what’s finest for the Cleveland Browns.”
Because the Haslams acquired the Browns in October 2012, they’ve employed six full-time head coaches (Pat Shurmur, Rob Chudzinski, Mike Pettine, Hue Jackson, Freddie Kitchens, Stefanski) and 6 entrance workplace bosses (Tom Heckert, Michael Lombardi, Ray Farmer, Sashi Brown, John Dorsey, Berry). Previous to the Stefanski-Berry 2020 debut season, the group had gone 1-for-21 in playoff berths since rebooting in 1999. Whereas the Browns have seen some stumbles (significantly at quarterback) throughout this duo’s tenure, their 2023 exhibiting introduced trigger for optimism.
Stefanski, 42, joins Invoice Belichick, Bruce Arians and Ron Rivera as HCs to win two Coach of the 12 months honors since 2000. The second definitely solidified the play-caller’s case for an extension. The Browns gave Stefanski a five-year contract in 2020. Groups nearly by no means make HCs lame geese, the Dallas state of affairs however and Stefanski is the longest-tenured Browns HC since Belichick (1991-95). Not one of the Browns 2.0 coaches match Stefanski’s longevity or success and the ex-Vikings OC managing to steer final yr’s group to the playoffs marked fairly the accomplishment given the circumstances.
The Browns withstood season-ending accidents to Deshaun Watson, Nick Chubb and their high three tackles but managed to win 10 video games this previous season. Stefanski coaxed a shocking resurgence from late-season free-agent signee Joe Flacco, who claimed Comeback Participant of the 12 months honors regardless of solely beginning 5 video games. Successful a playoff recreation proved too daunting a activity for this ragtag solid, however Stefanski’s 2020 Coach of the 12 months providing produced a playoff upset (over the Steelers). That win got here with Stefanski at residence with COVID-19, although the Browns almost toppled the No. 1-seeded Chiefs per week later.
Because of the 2022 Watson commerce, Berry’s path has been a bit rockier. The Browns grew to become the primary group because the 1976 49ers to surrender three first-round picks for a veteran quarterback and Jimmy Haslam pinned the idea for guaranteeing Watson’s whole five-year, $230M contract on his GM.
Watson has struggled, together with his 2023 well being points coming as changed starter Baker Mayfield – who succeeded underneath Stefanski in 2020 earlier than struggling amid accidents in 2021 – discovered his footing once more in Tampa. Because the Browns haven’t any alternative however to make it work with Watson, the roster Berry has assembled has confirmed profitable regardless of its QB.
As is the case in Kansas Metropolis, John Dorsey‘s draft selections nonetheless characterize among the high Browns items. Berry, nonetheless, reached extensions with Chubb, Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward and Wyatt Teller. The GM additionally prolonged Joel Bitonio whereas buying Amari Cooper for less than Day 3 draft selections. Berry acquisitions, together with the group’s Jim Schwartz rent, put items in place for a No. 1-ranked move protection to assist the battered offense final season. Whereas Berry’s draft acumen stays to be seen as a result of group not having a first-round decide for the previous three years, the 36-year-old exec has made some pivotal contributions throughout his second Cleveland stint.
Berry, who employed Stefanski shortly after rejoining the group in 2020, initially served as a staffer underneath Dorsey and de facto GM Sashi Brown in the course of the 2010s. The Browns are nonetheless ready for his or her Watson guess to repay, however the group will give its decision-makers extra time to function round that monster contract.
