In professional sports, nuance always matters. So do the facts and the outcomes. At the intersection of those two things, decision makers have to figure out a direction for their franchises. For the Cleveland
Browns, that decision maker is owner Jimmy Haslam.
The Browns power structure is set up so that GM Andrew Berry and HC Kevin Stefanski report directly to Haslam, instead of one having power over the other. Stefanski was hired first and joined the committee that ended up hiring Berry.
With many believing Stefanski and, to a lesser extent, Berry are on the hot seat, the nuance of the Deshaun Watson trade setting the team back is important to note. Haslam has done so multiple times. For the pure facts of the matter, Cleveland is 42-49 under the rule of Berry and Stefanski, including now 5-19 since the start of the 2024 NFL season.
The struggles of the Browns offense, along with Berry’s stellar 2025 rookie class, have put the head coach squarely in the crosshairs of fan and media frustration. Dillon Gabriel’s struggles and big-name Shedeur Sanders backing him up have only fanned the fires (and illogic) of those around the team, even if not inside the team.
Speaking to The Athletic’s Diana Russini (subscriber, $), Haslam seemed to take Stefanski off the hot seat, once again noting that the Watson trade is something they are “all suffering from” still:
“Kevin’s done a really good job with us, and we’ve had some tough breaks,” Haslam said, referencing the megadeal that brought Deshaun Watson to Cleveland. “… A big trade we made didn’t work out, and you know, we’re all suffering from that. Kevin, I thought, really did a great job of rallying the troops last week at a really critical time. You find out about leaders when things are bad, not when they’re good, and he did a good job last week.”
Haslam’s comment is loaded with understanding the nuance despite the record. The Browns owner didn’t completely end the conversation as the quote ends with “he did a good job last week.” Every coach and player is under pressure every week to perform. Haslam is obviously evaluating everything given the team’s record over the last season and a half. Stefanski has to do a good job every week of leading the locker room, win or lose. If he does that, Haslam seems ready to continue with his current duo in power.
For most Cleveland fans, results are all that matter. For the Browns owner, the nuance seems to weigh heavily. Haslam seems to have pulled Stefanski off the hot seat for now, but was that the dreaded “vote of confidence” or just plainly speaking about what he thinks, sees, and believes? The owner’s decision, no later than next offseason, will tell the truth.
What do you think about Haslam’s statement on Stefanski, did he actually pull him off the hot seat? How do you feel about the Watson deal still being used to excuse the “suffering” with the Browns?
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