Former Vikings Coach is Fired after Brutal 2025 Season
Former Vikings coach Kevin Stefanski has been shown the door in Cleveland.
Kelsey Russo of the Browns’ team website relayed the word: “Kevin Stefanski has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the Cleveland Browns.” The decision comes after Stefanski led Cleveland to a last-place finish in an underwhelming AFC North with a final record sitting at 5-12.
Former Vikings Coach Axed by Cleveland
In youth sports, there’s sometimes a mercy rule for games that get out of hand (think in baseball when a team deficit is insurmountable after a certain number of innings). Hard not to think that firing Stefanski is the coaching equivalent in the NFL.
On a near annual basis, the Browns find new ways to become a laughingstock. Some glimmers of hope shined through under the leadership of Coach Stefanski, but those brief moments of optimism were fleeting. Rather than rally around what was working, the Browns opted to construct what is understood as a historically-awful trade when bringing Deshaun Watson to town.
Essentially everyone — apart from Cleveland’s leadership — could see that the quarterback trade would become a disaster. Predictably, it has been become so bad that dumpster fires get insulted by being used as a comparison for Cleveland.
Kevin Stefanski is now the fall guy, the one taking the blame for the organization’s failure.
Cleveland’s team ownership chimed in with their opinion of Stefanski: “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. We wish Kevin, Michelle and the Stefanski family all the best in the future.”
The front office will still be led by the current GM, per ownership: “Andrew Berry will continue to lead our football operations. 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.”
Whoever gets tasked with becoming the new head coach should call Aspirin to see about a lifetime sponsorship deal. Dealing with that mess is going to be a headache.
Somewhere in the NFL, a team is going to hire Kevin Stefanski and be happy with the result. He has a pair of Coach of the Year awards for a reason.
Meanwhile, the Vikings are sorting through their own coaching conundrums. In particular, there’s the lingering status of all-world defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Based on merit alone, Coach Flores deserves one of the top jobs. Leave it to the NFL, though, to mess up what should be a straightforward decision.
Prior to taking over in Cleveland, Kevin Stefanski worked every job in Minnesota apart from slinging hot dogs at the concession stand. He has been an undefined assistant while also being tasked with coaching the quarterbacks, tight ends, and running backs. So, too, was he Minnesota’s offensive coordinator before getting hired away to become Cleveland’s head coach.
Getting fired stings. Real humans experience real pain. In time, Kevin Stefanski will get another gig and be better off for putting the Browns behind him.
