Kevin Stefanski’s secret New England Patriots role revealed ahead of Chargers showdown

Kevin Stefanski may no longer be with the Cleveland Browns, but his influence is still being felt in the playoffs.

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel credited his lone season in Cleveland as a consultant with taking away several elements of Stefanski’s approach to practice and preparation.

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Most notably, Vrabel has adopted Stefanski’s four H pillars: history, heroes, heartbreak, and hope.

He credited his colleague’s methods for building a culture and team that grows closer together.

Ironically, it worked out far better for Vrabel than it did for Stefanski this season.

The first-year head coach in New England finished 14–3 and captured the AFC’s second seed behind an MVP-worthy campaign led by Drake Maye. They are now just two wins away from the Super Bowl.

Why was Kevin Stefanski fired by Cleveland?

And while Stefanski’s tenure in Cleveland had its ups and downs, it ultimately ended this season after a 5–12 record led to his dismissal.

However, Stefanski shouldn’t be without a job for long, as the 43-year-old has already interviewed for a handful of other openings with more interviews to come.

He has met with the Falcons, Titans, Giants, Ravens, and Raiders.

That raises an obvious question: if Stefanski is such a hot name, why did the Browns move on from someone who was a two-time Coach of the Year in Cleveland?

Stefanski didn’t win those awards by coaching a juggernaut. He won them by navigating some of the most turbulent waters in modern NFL history.

In his first season in 2020, he snapped Cleveland’s 18-year playoff drought and led them to their first postseason win since 1994.

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However, his finest coaching job was probably in 2023 when he piloted the Browns to 11 wins despite using five different starting quarterbacks and losing star RB Nick Chubb to a season-ending injury.

Again, if Stefanski is so good, why did the Browns finish 8-26 over the last two seasons? The answer (and blame) can be pointed towards the front office.

The reality is that Stefanski was the victim of a “big swing and a miss” by ownership. The trade for Deshaun Watson hamstrung the team’s salary cap and draft capital.

By 2025, the Browns were playing with an “imperfect roster” (as GM Andrew Berry admitted) and a bottom-tier offensive line that featured 10 different starting combinations.

Stefanski is now free from Cleveland’s self-inflicted ineptitude and can smile knowing he played a small part in the Patriots’ success.

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