The Cleveland Browns fired head coach Kevin Stefanski on Monday, the team announced in a statement. Stefanski will be one of the top names to get another job during this coaching cycle. Here are three teams that should hire Stefanski.
Browns Fire Kevin Stefanski
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski has been relieved of his duties
📰: https://t.co/OTs0Dg82nM pic.twitter.com/YESc5C26Sn
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) January 5, 2026
After six seasons, the Browns are parting ways with Stefanski.
“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.”
The Browns will keep general manager Andrew Berry, who leads Cleveland’s football operations.
After spending 13 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, Stefanski became the head coach of the Browns in January 2020.
In his first season, Stefanski led the Browns to an 11-5 record, resulting in their first postseason appearance since 2002. The Browns defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round before falling to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Weekend.
Stefanski was named the AP NFL Head Coach of the Year.
Stefanski also led the Browns to the playoffs during the 2023 season with an 11-6 record. The Browns fell to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round. Stefanski won his second AP NFL Head Coach of the Year.
After finishing the 2025 campaign at 5-12, Stefanski ends his tenure in Cleveland with a 45-56 record over six seasons.
Because of his offensive prowess and previous success, Stefanski is now one of the top coaching candidates on the market. It would be stunning if he did not receive a head coaching job during this cycle.
3 Teams That Should Hire Kevin Stefanski
Coach Stefanski's message of gratitude to the team, community and Browns fans pic.twitter.com/Mg6OU0z2bV
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) January 5, 2026
New York Giants
The New York Giants are in the market for their fifth head coach since the 2016 season (not counting interims).
The Giants ended the season on a two-game winning streak to finish 4-13 and will have the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Unlike most head coaching openings, the Giants already have the young quarterback in Jaxson Dart. The Giants also boast a strong defensive line with blue-chip players like Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence, and Abdul Carter.
Developing Dart is the No. 1 priority. Stefanski could be the right guy to elevate Dart’s game and turn the Giants around.
Las Vegas Raiders
After one season, the Las Vegas Raiders fired head coach Pete Carroll.
General Manager John Spytek and partial owner Tom Brady will lead the search for the next head coach.
The Raiders’ biggest selling point is the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. In all likelihood, the Raiders will take quarterback Fernando Mendoza out of Indiana.
Mendoza, Ashton Jeanty, and Brock Bowers are a solid young nucleus that could benefit from Stefanski’s offensive knowledge.
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans have needed a new head coach since firing Brian Callahan in October.
The top priority for the next Titans’ head coach is to develop quarterback Cam Ward.
The No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft flashed signs of greatness during his rookie season. Getting an opportunity to work with Ward could be enticing for an offensive coach like Stefanski.
