With the potential for changes sweeping through the Cleveland Browns once again this offseason, there are still a lot of questions unanswered around Berea and Cleveland, Ohio. Can GM Andrew Berry really
survive because of one very good NFL draft class (that lacks premium/hard-to-find positions) while HC Kevin Stefanski does not, despite being aligned with Berry the whole time?
A bigger question is around the power structure/dynamic between the owner, GM, and head coach. Currently, Berry and Stefanski report directly to owner Jimmy Haslam. It is an interesting dynamic where the two decision makers attempt to work together to please the owner instead of one reporting to the other.
When Cleveland last went through a regime change, Stefanski was hired first, then joined the search committee that ended up hiring Berry as the general manager. If Berry survives to help hire the next head coach, could the power dynamic change in Berea? Has Berry earned the trust of Haslam to have the head coach report to the GM? Would that limit the possible candidates for the head coaching job?
Last offseason, we saw the Jacksonville Jaguars retain their general manager while searching for a coach. Liam Coen made it clear that he would not work with/for Trent Baalke, so the Jags moved on from him to hire Coen. Youngster James Gladestone took over as the GM, made a huge trade with Berry in the 2025 NFL draft, and Jacksonville is primed for the NFL postseason.
It doesn’t always work out that smoothly, as Cleveland fans well know.
Moving forward, Haslam needs to decide what the best power structure is for the team. He has leaned into the current structure as it fits what he is used to in the business world. However, it is not the standard operating procedure in the NFL. Generally, the head coach reports to the general manager who either reports to a CEO type or directly to ownership. There are some setups where the GM reports to the HC, who reports up through the organization, but that is an anomaly for proven coaches with a lot of power.
All that matters for the Browns is that the team gets back to winning. It could help if the power structure were more linear, especially if Berry is retained and a new head coach is brought in. Whether Haslam is open to making that change and not having his head coach report directly to him is a big question this offseason.
Do you think there is a “right” power structure in the NFL? What do you think the Browns should look like heading into next year?
Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below
