The revolving door at Berea just spun again. Honestly, if you're a fan, you’ve probably developed a sort of emotional callus to the news by now. On January 6, 2026, the team officially moved on from Kevin Stefanski after six seasons. It’s wild when you think about it because, for a minute there, it felt like the coaches of Cleveland Browns might finally have some actual stability.
Stefanski wasn't just another name on the list. He was a two-time NFL Coach of the Year. He actually won a playoff game—in Pittsburgh, of all places. But the NFL is a "what have you done for me lately" business, and a 5-12 finish in 2025 coupled with an offense that looked stuck in the mud was the final straw.
The Search for the Next Leader in 2026
Right now, the building is buzzing with interviews. Andrew Berry stayed on as GM, but he’s basically looking for a soulmate to fix an offense that ranked near the bottom of the league last year.
The list of candidates for the next head coach is pretty diverse. You’ve got Jim Schwartz, the current defensive coordinator, who already interviewed on January 8. Then there’s Jesse Minter, the Chargers' defensive coordinator, who just sat down with the team on Friday, January 16. Minter is a hot name because of what he did with Jim Harbaugh at Michigan and then turning the Chargers into the top-scoring defense in the league.
But it’s not just defensive guys. The Browns also looked at Mike McDaniel—yeah, the former Dolphins coach who actually spent 2014 in Cleveland as a wide receivers coach. Talk about a full-circle moment.
🔗 Read more: Lawrence County High School Football: Why Friday Nights in Louisa Still Hit Different
Why Kevin Stefanski Was Different (And Why He Still Got Fired)
Most coaches of Cleveland Browns since the 1999 return lasted about as long as a carton of milk. Stefanski survived six years. That’s a lifetime in Northeast Ohio.
Basically, he brought a level of adult-in-the-room energy that the franchise desperately needed after the Freddie Kitchens era. Under Stefanski, the Browns went 45-56. That record looks "meh" on paper, but you have to remember he led them to the postseason twice. Before him, the team hadn't seen the playoffs since 2002.
So, what went wrong? The offense. It’s always the offense in Cleveland. Despite having Myles Garrett—who is still playing at an All-Pro level—the team couldn't score. They cycled through quarterbacks like they were trying on shoes. By the end of 2025, the pressure from the Haslams was just too much.
A Look Back: The Legends and the Letdowns
You can't talk about the coaches of Cleveland Browns without mentioning the man whose name is literally on the helmet. Paul Brown.
💡 You might also like: LA Rams Home Game Schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
- Paul Brown (1946–1962): He didn't just coach; he invented the modern game. We're talking face masks, film study, and the "messenger guard" system. He went 158-48-8.
- Blanton Collier (1963–1970): The guy who took over after Art Modell fired Paul Brown. He won the last championship this city saw in football back in 1964.
- Marty Schottenheimer (1984–1988): "Martyball." He never had a losing season in Cleveland. The Drive and The Fumble happened on his watch, which isn't fair, but that’s the Browns for you.
Then you get into the "New Browns" era, which is basically a horror movie for coaching resumes.
Hue Jackson went 3-36-1. Think about those numbers for a second. That is a level of losing that is statistically difficult to achieve. He survived a 0-16 season only to get fired mid-way through the next year.
Then there was Bill Belichick. People forget he was here from 1991 to 1995. He actually won a playoff game with Cleveland before the team moved to Baltimore. If the move hadn't happened, who knows? Maybe the Dynasty starts on the shores of Lake Erie instead of Foxborough.
The 2026 Interview Tracker: Who is in the Mix?
If you’re tracking the current search, it’s moving fast. Here is who has sat in the hot seat so far this January:
📖 Related: Kurt Warner Height: What Most People Get Wrong About the QB Legend
- Tommy Rees: The current Browns OC. He took over play-calling late in 2025 and is a favorite of the younger analytics crowd.
- Todd Monken: The Ravens OC. He’s been in Cleveland before (2019) and knows the division inside and out.
- Dan Pitcher: The Bengals OC. Stealing from a division rival is always a popular move with fans.
- Aden Durde: The Seahawks DC. He’s got that international flair and a reputation for building "blue-collar" units.
What Most People Get Wrong About Cleveland Coaches
The narrative is usually that Cleveland is where coaching careers go to die. Honestly, that’s sort of a myth.
Look at Nick Saban. He was the defensive coordinator under Belichick in the 90s. Look at Mike McDaniel or even Kyle Shanahan, who was the OC here in 2014. The problem hasn't always been the talent of the coaches of Cleveland Browns—it's often been the structure above them.
Since 1999, the team has had ten full-time head coaches. Only two made the playoffs: Butch Davis and Kevin Stefanski. That’s the real tragedy. It’s not that the coaches are bad; it’s that the organization has lacked a singular vision for more than three years at a time.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Offseason
If you're following the coaching search, keep an eye on the "offensive vs. defensive" debate. The Browns have a generational defense ready to win now. If they hire a defensive coach like Jesse Minter, they are betting that the defense can carry a mediocre offense.
If they go with a guy like Rees or McDaniel, they are admitting that the $230 million quarterback situation needs a specialist to fix it.
How to Track the News:
- Watch the Second Interviews: Usually, the first round is for the "search firm" vibes. The second interview is when the Haslams get involved.
- Check the Coordinator Hires: Often, a coach is only as good as the staff they bring. If a candidate can't land a top-tier OC, they're likely going to struggle.
- Ignore the "Big Names": Cleveland rarely wins the "press conference." They need a grinder, not a celebrity.
The next few weeks will define the next five years of Browns football. Whether they find the next Paul Brown or the next Hue Jackson is anyone's guess, but for once, the roster they're inheriting isn't actually that bad.