Browns GM Andrew Berry: Kevin Stefanski is an ‘outstanding coach’ and ‘absolutely part of the solution’

BEREA, Ohio - Browns GM Andrew Berry in his annual bye week address, gave Kevin Stefanski a huge vote of confidence despite the team's disappointing 2-7 record.

Stefanski, the reigning AP NFL Coach of the Year and two-time winner in his first four seasons, has overhauled his staff on both sides of the ball over the past two seasons, and gave up playcalling two games ago to offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey.

But Berry, who received a contract extension along with Stefanski before the season, stressed that Stefanski's job is safe moving forward.

"Yeah, I'll be honest, neither of us really think of it that way," Berry said. "I'd say number one to myself, I always view myself as a steward of the organization in this role and really my focus is on doing the things that are in my control short term and long term to make sure it's in the best interest of the franchise.

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"I would say to Kevin specifically, look I think there are 13 coaches in the history of the sport to win a Coach of the Year award multiple times. 10 of them went to a Super Bowl or an NFL championship, six of them won one, and seven are in the Hall of Fame and he's the second fastest to do it. Kevin's an outstanding coach and he's absolutely part of the solution with everything."

The Browns were expected to contend for the playoffs again this season, but started 1-6 in part because of injuries at key positions, and Watson struggling after undergoing surgery last November to repair his fractured shoulder and partially-torn labrum.

The Browns must now evaluate their quarterback situation for 2025, and come up with a starting-caliber quarterback who can win games in the event Watson isn't recovered from surgery to repair his ruptured Achilles by the start of the season, or that they opt to go in a different direction.