Former Vikings Coach Fired on Black Monday
Every year, a handful of NFL coaches lose their jobs on the Monday after the regular season, and former Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski was not immune this cycle. Following six seasons as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Stefanski is done and is expected to command immediate interest for the same job elsewhere in the NFL.
Cleveland pulled the plug after another lousy year, and Stefanski now becomes a familiar coaching name to watch across the NFL.
Stefanski represented one of Black Monday’s top mysteries. He did not survive the cut.
Browns Fire Kevin Stefanski; He May Not Be Unemployed Long
The two-time NFL Coach of the Year is now available for the taking.
Browns Move on from Stefanski
Cleveland is ready for something different. ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi wrote Monday morning, “The Cleveland Browns fired head coach Kevin Stefanski after six seasons, the team announced Monday. The Browns finished the 2025 season with a 5-12 record en route to their second straight last-place finish in the AFC North and their fourth losing season under Stefanski.”
“The Browns also announced that Andrew Berry, who arrived in Cleveland with Stefanski in 2020, will remain in his position as general manager.”
Stefanski sat on the hot seat all season, and the fears of his termination came to fruition. The Browns’ 5-12 record acted as the nail in the coffin.
The Browns’ owners said about Stefanski, the man, and the organization’s direction, “We have tremendous gratitude for Kevin’s leadership of the Cleveland Browns over the last six seasons. He is a good football coach and an even better person.”
“We appreciate all his hard work and dedication to our organization but our results over the last two seasons have not been satisfactory, and we believe a change at the head coaching position is necessary. The entirety of our focus is on building a team that brings our fans the success they long deserve, and we will continue to work relentlessly towards that goal and invest whatever resources necessary to build a winning football program.”
On a high note, Browns defensive end Myles Garrett set the single-season sack record on Sunday, taking down Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow for his 23rd sack of the season.
The Haslams (Browns owners) added, “Andrew will immediately begin our thorough process to find an outstanding new head coach and leader of our football team.”
“We have an exciting young core to build upon, and Andrew and his team are intent on adding talent to this core and building out a roster that can achieve sustainable success.”
A Short Unemployment Stint?
Stefanski won’t be unemployed long; he’s that respected.
NFL.com‘s Mike Garafolo tweeted immediately after the termination, “The Browns fire HC Kevin Stefanski, which makes him an immediate candidate for other jobs, and I’d expect the Giants to have interest.”
In fact, Stefanski’s newfound availability could be music to the ears of general managers and owners. He’s a turnkey head coach and won’t bring any mystery about whether he has the chops for the big job, as a coordinator would.
There’s always a chance that Stefanski takes a year off. Many fired coaches do. But Stefanski doesn’t seem to fit the profile just hours into Black Monday.
The Accolades
Stefanski is a two-time Coach of the Year. He has that going for him. The Browns also won their first playoff game in decades under Stefanski. The problem? That happened five years ago, and Stefanski didn’t technically coach the game because of COVID.
All told, the Browns had a 45-56 record on Stefanski’s watch. They won 45% of games with him in charge. That ranked 21st in the NFL over the last six seasons.
Doomed by Deshaun Watson
In 2022, Cleveland won the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes, trading the farm to the Houston Texans for the embattled passer who faced sexual assault allegations. The Browns also handed Watson a $230 million, fully guaranteed, over five years. The franchise is still not out from underneath the contract’s wreckage.
It is unclear what role Stefanski played in landing Watson, but the consensus is that ownership, not Stefanski personally, drove the deal.
After a lengthy suspension, Watson showed up in Cleveland and promptly struggled. He didn’t remotely resemble the elite version of himself from the Houston Texans days, and he battled injuries along the way. Whichever coach inherited the Watson trade, contract, and man was likely doomed from the start. In that regard, Stefanski feels like a fall guy.
Stefanksi released a statement Monday, “After six seasons as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns, I leave with an immense sense of gratitude. When I arrived in January of 2020, this organization, this community and Browns fans embraced me and my family with open arms.”
“I cannot express properly in words how good we have been treated. A sincere ‘Thank You’ to everyone who I have been so blessed to work for and with over these six seasons. I’d like to especially thank my coaching staff and the players who did everything that was ever asked of them.”
Stefanski worked for the Vikings from 2006 to 2019.
“They fought through injury and adversity, while always putting the TEAM FIRST. I wish all of you nothing but success,” he concluded.
Stefanski will turn 44 in May.
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