Browns fans and media might have Berry and Stefanski on the hot seat but owner Jimmy Haslam does not seem to
There is a saying that “Statistics don’t lie, but liers use statistics.” In professional sports, that “only stat that matters is wins and losses,” but so much more goes into a team’s success or failures than just one or two decision makers.
For the Cleveland Browns, the decision to trade for and sign QB Deshaun Watson has been an abject disaster, costing the team draft picks, cap space, money, fans and, in the end, a lot of games. GM Andrew Berry and HC Kevin Stefanski got taken off the hot seat about that decision by owner Jimmy Haslam at the 2025 owners’ meeting.
As we’ve noted before, Berry and Stefanski are not on the hot seat this season despite the 3-14 year last year. Instead, Haslam has full confidence in his decision makers and, seemingly, has given them a chance at a full restart as they won’t force a quarterback pick this year either:
Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam just met with a group of local reporters.
Jimmy said that despite a “disappointing” 3-14 season, he still has “high confidence” in HC Kevin Stefanski and GM Andrew Berry. Added that the team will not force a QB with the No. 2 pick.
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) March 31, 2025
While it might be overstated slightly, it has been communicated behind the scenes that, in many ways, the 2025 season is Year 1 for Berry and Stefanski. While fans and media focus on last year’s failures, Berry has shown a creative use of the salary cap to acquire talent and Stefanski has won Coach of the Year twice.
Under their leadership, the Browns are 40-44, with two playoff appearances (11 wins each year) and three losing seasons (8-9, 7-10, 3-14).
All of that has basically been thrown away by the Watson acquisition. Now, despite Watson working out at the facility regularly, Cleveland’s brass gets a chance to reestablish what they are building. Not forcing a quarterback pick could mean the team waits for 2026 to select their future QB or a developmental player like Jalen Milroe at some point, either late in the first or sometime in the second round.
For now:
2025 is Year 1 for Berry and Stefanski with the Browns pic.twitter.com/Wp3gyiRZqy
— Jared Mueller (@JaredKMueller) March 31, 2025
Most teams give their decision-makers at least two seasons to establish what they are looking to do. Berry and Stefanski might find themselves on the hot seat, but probably not before the 2027 season.
How do you feel about the idea that 2025 is Year 1 for Berry and Stefanski? What do you need to see (or what record if that “is all that matters”) in 2025 to feel better about the pair?
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