It’s been a topic of discussion going back to the start of last season. It’s no secret that Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski is coaching for his job for the remainder of the season, and with
the team being 2-7 after an unpredictable loss to the New York Jets, local media and fans want the team to cut ties with Stefanski.
Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Stefanski will likely get the remainder of the season before a decision is made. It could have already been made for all we know, but that doesn’t mean all the hot seat rumors will come to a conclusion before Week 18.
However, let’s examine both sides of potentially firing Kevin Stefanski.
Con to Browns firing Stefanski: Not having a legit replacement in line
Firing a head coach without having a solid replacement in line is like going to a new restaurant without knowing what you want to order, or at least knowing what kind of food they serve. Some might find this analogy silly, but it’s the truth.
How many times have we seen the Browns fire their head coach and not have a legit replacement waiting in the wings? It’s how you end up settling for a coach who ends up getting fired a year or two later. If you are going to fire the coach, you must have a list of potential candidates who are in line, who are legit, and have faith that they can turn the team around.
Most importantly, that you believe will accept the position if offered.
Whoever is leading the potential head coaching search must have a list of legit and respectable candidates to interview.
Pro to Browns firing Stefanski: New Voice
Obviously, nothing is wrong with change; it happens in everyday life. People find new jobs due to their unhappiness with their current job. Voices become stale, and a shakeup is needed.
Stefanski is far from incompetent, but his offense hasn’t improved nor evolved in the past three years, which has led to this point. As far as his leadership skills, it’s debatable. If you want to talk about if he can lead or team or not, we really do not know from the outside. Leadership is an internal factor, mostly, in pro sports.
The team hasn’t quit on Stefanski yet, but sometimes voices become stale in the locker room if you aren’t winning consistently. Bringing in a new voice could help galvanize an entire fan base and give them reasons for optimism.
Con to Browns firing Stefanski: Potential downgrade
It’s always going to be a topic of discussion. Cleveland has had their fair share of head coaches since the team returned, and for the most part, most of the coaches have been bad. Some may argue about this, but finding a good head coach is the same as finding a franchise quarterback. It’s hard.
Some will say the team can’t do worse than Stefanski, but it’s a possibility.
In terms of the head coaching candidates, the pool of the upcoming candidates aren’t the most inspiring choices. Most offensive coordinators, such as Buffalo Bills OC Joe Brady and Seattle Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak would be first-year head coaches, while Minnesota Vikings DC Brian Flores and Washington Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury are coordinators who were at the top but experienced minimal success.
It’s always a risk of moving on from someone and ending up hiring someone worse than the person you had before.
Pro to Browns firing Stefanski: Potential upgrade
If there is a potential for a downgrade, there is a potential for an upgrade. Many are assuming the next coach will be an upgrade, but that is overly optimistic, especially given the history in Cleveland.
