Kevin Stefanski could switch NFL teams for No. 1 draft pick as Browns seen replacement for troubled coach

Kevin Stefanski may only have just one game left as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns.

With the Browns entering their Week 18 clash against the Cincinnati Bengals with a 4-12 record, this is the fourth losing season in Stefanski’s six-season tenure at the helm.

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According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Cleveland have conducted work on potential candidates to replace Stefanski who has a 44-56 record with the team, and is 7-26 over the last two campaigns.

Traditionally the first Monday after the regular season is when teams fire their coaches, and in recent years that has even falled in the immediate hours after their final game.

“There are some 50/50s out there,” Fowler stated on Tuesday when discussing the impending round of hiring and firings.

“Cleveland, Las Vegas, those are two places I see as, like, they’ve done their preliminary research for a potential move.

“Doesn’t mean they’re locked into doing it or they’ve decided yet. But those are certainly on the radar.”

Earlier this season, Stefanski made the decision to offload offensive play-calling responsibilities to offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, which sparked some speculation that the relationship between the two-time NFL Coach of the Year and the Browns organization was rocky.

The 43-year-old has also come under fire this season for the handling of his quarterback carousel that has dominated NFL headlines all year long.

This is largely in part due to the arrival of quarterback Shedeur Sanders – son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion.

Having initially planned to redshirt the 23-year-old’s rookie campaign he was forced to insert him into the lineup as a result of an injury to previous starter, and fellow rookie, Dillon Gabriel.

Having impressed on his first start under center, and becoming the first Browns quarterback in 30 years to win on his first start, Stefanski took further heat for his reluctance to play him sooner than Week 12.

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But with just the Week 18 game against AFC North rivals Bengals to come, Stefanski has declined to speculate about his future as head coach in Cleveland.

“As you can imagine, my sole focus is on this game versus Cincinnati,” Stefanski said Monday.

“But I would also tell you, I’m privileged to have this job.”

“We just keep the focus on what’s in front of us. I appreciate this group of players. Like, I’ve told you guys, they’ve done everything I’ve asked them to do going back to the spring.

“I know what the results are, but I also know how these guys have worked. And that’s just what we’re about. We’re about putting in the work and then going and compete like crazy on Sundays.”

When he was asked later on whether there has been any discussions over his future, or whether he has any inclination on what could be coming, Stefanski added, “I understand the question, but I never get into those type of discussions.”

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Other NFL head coaches’ jobs under threat

Stefanski isn’t the only coach who ends the 2025 NFL season on the hot seat.

Another name who has been linked with being fired is that of Pete Carroll, as Fowler noted in his reporting.

The 74-year-old was only hired by Tom Brady and the Las Vegas Raiders in January as they sought to establish a winning culture of football after three straight losing seasons with a combined record of 18-33.

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Having also traded for veteran quarterback Geno Smith, and reuniting Carroll with his former quarterback when coaching the Seattle Seahawks, there was optimism that this was the core of building a winning formula in Sin City.

However, after penning Smith to a two-year, $75 million contract, he could only reward his employers with a league-worst 17 interceptions and 19 touchdowns.

But at least they have command of the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, with Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza available to select.

Whether Carroll will get the opportunity to be part of the draft decision though – with them likely to select Mendoza or most certainly another quarterback on the board – remains uncertain.

With confusion in both Cleveland and Las Vegas, perhaps there is a world when Stefanski’s offensive mind – that has taken the Browns to the playoffs – is recruited by Brady and paired with with first overall pick and Heisman winner.

Stefanski certainly looks like he may have run his course in Cleveland, but having also been linked with the Giants, if he is shown the exit door by the Browns he may have options to carry on as a head coach.

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