The Cleveland Browns officially announced a major shakeup this morning, confirming the firing of head coach Kevin Stefanski after six seasons. The decision, detailed in a statement by owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam, marks the end of an era defined by historic breakthroughs and recent struggles.
The Haslams expressed their deep appreciation for Stefanski’s tenure, writing, “We are deeply grateful for Kevin’s leadership of the Cleveland Browns over the past six seasons. He is an excellent football coach and an even better person. We appreciate all of his hard work and dedication to our organization.”
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However, they made it clear that recent results had forced them to make changes. “Our results over the past two seasons have been unsatisfactory and we believe a change in the head coaching position is necessary,” the statement read, confirming speculation that the team’s missed playoffs were the main catalyst for the move. The owners concluded their comments about Stefanski by wishing him, his wife Michelle and their family “all the best for the future.”
Moving forward, the Haslam family reaffirmed their commitment to the structure and success of the team. General manager Andrew Berry has been confirmed to stay on and will continue to lead football operations. The ownership group emphasized that the main goal is to bring long-awaited success to the fan base. “Our entire focus is on building a team that brings our fans the success they deserve, and we will continue to work tirelessly to achieve that goal and dedicate all necessary resources to build a winning football program,” they said.
Andrew Berry will immediately lead the search for Stefanski’s successor. The Haslams noted that Berry “will immediately begin our thorough process to find an outstanding new head coach and leader for our football team.”
They expressed optimism about the team’s foundation, concluding that “there is an exciting young core to continue to develop, and Andrew and his team are committed to adding talent to this core and building a roster capable of sustainable success.” This marked an important chapter for the team and began a new search for a head coach, who Haslam hopes can maximize the team’s potential.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns owner releases statement on firing Kevin Stefanski