NFL Research: Kevin Stefanski joined franchise namesake and Hall of Famer Paul Brown as the only head coaches in Browns history with more than 10 wins in multiple seasons.

@neo said:

I really think a lot of people don't really appreciate not only the job Stef has done all year, but the amazing staff the Browns have. Really, you could put Stefanski, Jim Schwartz, and Bill Callahan in the conversation for coach of the year. Without anyone of them, this team would not be 11-5 right now. 

Easily the best staff in the league presently...

Joe Flacco’s agent, Joe Linta, told me Sunday night he had “two or three” teams inquire about signing Flacco last Monday, when the Browns put him on the practice squad for a day or two, for roster-management purposes. “Joe didn’t want to hear it,” Linta said. “He absolutely wanted to stay in Cleveland. He loves the team. He really gets along well with the coach.”

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/fmia/news/nfl-chiefs-patrick-mahomes-jake-browning-playoffs-fmia-week-15-peter-king

Coach should get even more credit for this than he already deserves!

@nickers said:

Paul Brown he is not.. But he has been our most consistent coach since Marty.. And to me... That really isn't saying much...

Nobody will ever take another Pro Football team to 10 consecutive Championship Title Games and win 7 of them again.  That said, if Stefanski can turn a Mad Dawg into a Happy Dawg I liked the reasons MDDawg listed for that happening. Winning ANY games with this injury volume might mean Stefanski has a little David Copperfield in him.  Why overthink all this stuff though?

@nickers said:

Paul Brown he is not.. But he has been our most consistent coach since Marty.. And to me... That really isn't saying much...

We'll see.

@mddawg said:

Stefanski's our next Paul Brown, yes I said it. To have an XFL player beat the top of the pack 49ers, Watson beat the Ravens on one leg and arm, DTR beat the Steelers and resurrect Flacco from NFL death to 2 wins is remarkable. Plus let's not forget Cousins' best season in Minnesota was under Kevin's run as OC. Goodell in the stands for a 1 pm game between a mid and low tier team was very telling, the NFL loves narratives and look forward to hyping Flacco getting back to the SB.

Paul Brown he is not.. But he has been our most consistent coach since Marty.. And to me... That really isn't saying much...

@nickers said:

Either way.. I said then.. I'll say it now.. Stump was/is a great hire!

Indeed!  You can see the weeks that Ford stops all the false steps - Stump's been on/up his ass!   That said, there's a fine line between hitting the daylight; and waiting for all the pulling linemen to set up in front of him on the power sweeps.  My take?  Just keep the extra blockers home and hit it quick with either a lateral/swing pass to the back outside immediately (from a preferred pro set backfield).  

@bbedward said:

Best case scenario is they finish 9-8 and Pickett lights up the ravens backups in week 18

Then they miss the playoffs, get a shitty draft pick, and can think Pickett is their guy for at least another year 

well exactly !  can't have that pos tomlin have a losing record . Nfl would not stand for it. And the rest I hope they end up in the shitter

@syd said:

he just wants his 2 more wins

Best case scenario is they finish 9-8 and Pickett lights up the ravens backups (or not backups, who cares) in week 18

Then they miss the playoffs, get a shitty draft pick, and can think Pickett is their guy for at least another year 

@bbedward said:

Tomlin has probably run his course over there

he just wants his 2 more wins

@texasag1969 said:

He came on board in 2019 before the HC change in 2020, so that makes him a Freddie hire.

Either way.. I said then.. I'll say it now.. Stump was/is a great hire!

@nickers said:

Stump was Hue hire... If I'm not mistaken

He came on board in 2019 before the HC change in 2020, so that makes him a Freddie hire.

@ibleedbrown said:

I think Stefanski inherited Stump Mitchell, unless he left the team and came back? Wasn’t Mitchell with us during the Hard Knocks days?

Stump was Hue hire... If I'm not mistaken

@hoorta said:

Add in Kev has a knack bringing in top assistant coaches like Schwartz, Stump Mitchell, and Bill Callahan.  

I think Stefanski inherited Stump Mitchell, unless he left the team and came back? Wasn’t Mitchell with us during the Hard Knocks days?

I guess that's on me, because I have to fully agree with both the facts and praise put forth by the posters above. 

@hoorta said:

FWIW, the short attention spans have so quickly forgotten our wonderous seasons under the likes of  Mike Pettine, Hueless "the Clueless" Jackson, and Freddie "in the" Kitchens.  

Some guys aren't going to be satisfied until we hire the next Chuck Noll, and win a few Super Bowls.   

Add in Kev has a knack bringing in top assistant coaches like Schwartz, Stump Mitchell, and Bill Callahan.  

Let’s hope Kevin is the next Chuck Noll or Bill Bellichik (obviously he can’t even be compared at this point, but his career is young and he has an owner willing to outspend even the big market teams). I like that he seems to be getting better every season, if you don’t have the growth mindset then you end up like the Steelers who spend a decade on the upper end of mediocre.

Steelers fans overestimate their roster but I do think Tomlin has probably run his course over there. When you’re a playoff team and guys are still crying on the sidelines and fighting each other there’s probably a leadership problem. 

@runyon27 said:

No only is he in the running for COTY, although I think the Texans HC will get it, he has shown to be an upper tier game planner on how to attack other teams. And he has improved with things on when to go for it on 4th down etc. Dude is getting better. Compare him to the OC trash they have going on in Pittsburgh right now. They just call plays and have no idea how to attack the other teams defense etc. Stefanski has, outside of the first Ravens game, have given this team a chance to win every week.

FWIW, the short attention spans have so quickly forgotten our wonderous seasons under the likes of  Mike Pettine, Hueless "the Clueless" Jackson, and Freddie "in the" Kitchens.  

Some guys aren't going to be satisfied until we hire the next Chuck Noll, and win a few Super Bowls.   

Add in Kev has a knack bringing in top assistant coaches like Schwartz, Stump Mitchell, and Bill Callahan.  

@jrb12711 said:

Absolutely- if you believe Vegas he has the 12th best odds: https://www.vegasinsider.com/nfl/odds/coach-of-the-year/

Honestly, COTY has most years turned into a bit of a popularity contest. I think Dan Campbell is a great coach but I simply don't believe he's a stronger candidate given their roster and division. 

Campbell definitely should be losing some points now, though I like him as a coach still - at least his personality.

They are looking more like fakers - barely squeaking by bad teams, getting trounced by good ones. (And also getting trounced by some bad ones - including on Thanksgiving day).

Demeco Ryans is probably the favorite, if the Texans make the playoffs. Otherwise, I'm not so sure anymore. Has anyone won COTY without making the playoffs before?

@bbedward said:

I think he is a COTY contender there’s just other good contenders too that haven’t won it before.

It’s hard to argue with the results, he’s adapted the offense to multiple style of QBs too seamlessly. Watson the mobile star power guy opens things up the most, but also DTR the rookie who is limited in downfield ability, Walker who is limited in every ability, and Flacco who is a pure pocket passer. 
 

Just look at what the Jets and Broncos (at the time) incompetent coaching did to Flacco vs how Kevin’s offense has him looking like he’s 26 again. It also could be said that he had a role in cementing Kirk cousins as a starter.

The team has bought into Kevin big time.

Absolutely- if you believe Vegas he has the 12th best odds: https://www.vegasinsider.com/nfl/odds/coach-of-the-year/

Honestly, COTY has most years turned into a bit of a popularity contest. I think Dan Campbell is a great coach but I simply don't believe he's a stronger candidate given their roster and division.