NFL Coach Thought To Be On Hot Seat Reportedly 'Not Going Anywhere'
11/21/2024 08:19 PM
There have already been two NFL head coaches fired during the 2024 season, with several others likely to follow when the year ends.
With the Cleveland Browns sitting at 2-8 going into tonight's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, many have speculated that Kevin Stefanski could be on the hot seat. Stefanski, who is 40-40 in Cleveland, including playoffs, led the Browns to an 11-6 showing and postseason berth last year. He was named NFL AP Coach of the Year for the second time in the process.
This season has been different though,, as the team was sunk from the outset by the poor play of quarterback Deshaun Watson. Stefanski was asked about his job status during this week, but according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the 42-year-old coach has nothing to worry about.
"Kevin Stefanski, to my knowledge, based on everything I know, is not going anywhere," Rapoport said on The Insiders Thursday. "I assume people will still be asking. It has been an unfortunate season. They don't have the results they wanted. But I would be beyond stunned if Kevin Stefanski was not the Browns' coach next year."
Rapoport also made note of Watson, who is out for the year with a torn Achilles, when discussing why Stefanski's job is safe.
"Kevin Stefanski did not forget how to coach football. He just had an unfortunate performance, including the fact that Deshaun Watson had, you know, certainly the worst year of his career and then got injured and obviously the same last year," Rapoport said. "This is the same Kevin Stefanski that led a team with Joe Flacco as a starting quarterback to the playoffs."
Stefanski, who was also named NFL Coach of the Year in 2020, downplayed any concerns about losing his job when asked about it this week.
"I get that's part of this gig," Stefanski said Tuesday, via ESPN. "That's life in the big city. My sole focus is getting this team ready to get a win on Thursday night. That's it."
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Related: Kevin Stefanski Has Blunt Response To Question About His Job Security
