The Cleveland Browns do not have the longest NFL playoff drought, not by a long shot, but fans are frustrated with the direction of the team. The discussion around Browns fans has been about how to build
a winner, starting with the 2026 NFL draft. The desperate need for top-level players, especially at the quarterback position, is why teams like the Las Vegas Raiders and the New York Giants are having a tank-off in Week 17 .
Four of the five teams that are making returns to the playoffs this year have followed a similar route to get there: A new quarterback near the top of the draft, then a new head coach.
- The Chicago Bears drafted Caleb Williams two years ago, then hired Ben Johnson to be his coach this offseason
- The New England Patriots drafted Drake Maye two years ago, then hired Mike Vrabel to be his coach this offseason
- The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Trevor Lawrence years ago, then hired Liam Coen to be his coach this offseason
- The Carolina Panthers drafted Bryce Young a few years ago, then hired Dave Canales the following year to be his coach
As we hear with any financial services, “past performance does not predict future results.”
Just because getting the quarterback first, then the right head coach, worked for teams this year, doesn’t mean that is the norm. However, it is notable that strong coaching candidates are drawn to teams with a young, dynamic quarterback they can build around. Vrabel, for example, would not have accepted the Browns job this offseason had they fired Kevin Stefanski over getting the chance to coach Maye.
As Cleveland owner Jimmy Haslam processes what he wants to do with Stefanski, and to a lesser extent, Andrew Berry, the success the Bears, Pats, Jags, and Panthers have had after getting the young quarterback first can’t be ignored. Will strong candidates be drawn to the team with the chance to draft a quarterback high? Possibly. A year of NFL film showing strong play as a rookie, as we saw with Williams and Maye last year, could be an even bigger draw for hot head coaching candidates.
Should the Browns try to replicate the order that Chicago, Jacksonville, Carolina, and New England did? Maybe. In the end, there is no right way to build a winner, but Cleveland desperately needs a winner, which means getting a top-flight quarterback and the right head coach.
