Despite rumors, the Browns and Kevin Stefanski are tied together thought he culture he’s built
What is a culture? Culture can be defined in many different ways. In sports, having a strong culture is important. Coming from someone who has played football (from HS football all the way to Division 3 college football), I’ve experienced my fair share of being in locker rooms with both good and bad cultures.
It’s been a difficult season for the Cleveland Browns, the team has underachieved as they sit 3-8 considering the expectations they had leading up to the season. Some will blame the majority of the shortcomings on the inept quarterback play (which is fair) but some have thrown blame at the head coach for why the team is where they are.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski has had his share of criticism, some of it’s fair while other times it has been ridiculous. Some Browns fans want Stefanski fired this season for many reasons.
- Not building/creating a culture
- Questionable offensive playcalling
- Not embodying the identity of the city
Notice how I put one of the bullet points in bold. Stefanski has been questioned by many fans for not building a culture conducive to the team’s success. It’s a disingenuous argument and I am not the only one that believes this. If for some reason Cleveland was to fire Stefanski, not only would it be a bad move but you would be destroying something he has built:
A culture that’s stable and competent.
What defines a culture?
Kansas City Chiefs. Baltimore Ravens. San Francisco 49ers. What do these teams have in common? Strong, stable team cultures. What has Cleveland lacked since the team has returned? You guessed it. A Strong, stable team culture.
Cultures aren’t defined by just wins and losses. There are more components to it. These three things come to mind for me:
- Accountability
- Toughness
- Resiliency
Has Stefanski built a culture with the Browns?
As mentioned earlier, many fans want Stefanski to be fired because he hasn’t built a culture conducive to the team’s success. Let’s hear about this narrative from a national perspective:
“That seemed like a really good and impressive culture to me a year ago. So, this offseason, did (Stefanski) forget to take his culture pills? I think they do have a good culture.”@RossTuckerNFL doesn’t understand questioning #Browns culture, Kevin Stefanski on @afternoon923FAN pic.twitter.com/MDWWxlcPhe
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) November 20, 2024
I ask this question? Is Ross Tucker lying about this? Go back to last Thursday night when the Browns played divisional rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Everyone watched that game, and everyone saw how the team played.
Considering how they collapsed late against the New Orleans Saints, they could’ve easily not shown up that night.
They didn’t.
We all saw a team, sitting at 2-8 with nothing to play for at this point go out and battle. Guys competed, uplifted, and showed energy and passion which the team has shown this season (just not consistently). If you don’t believe me this clip embodies it:
Jameis Winston ran down the field and made the tackle on the fumble pic.twitter.com/2rRmZNvpNw
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) November 22, 2024
Tucker also agrees.
2-8 team flying around in bad weather leading an 8-2 team?
Culture seems ok to me. ♂️ https://t.co/hJOH9RsTb7
— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) November 22, 2024
Remove the wins and losses for one minute. Stefanski has built a culture that Cleveland has lacked for quite some time. Stability. Resilience. Stefanski didn’t win coach of the year last year by accident, he won it because the team found a way to find success despite multiple injuries to the roster. That alone speaks volumes.
This also speaks volumes as well:
Since Kevin Stefanski was hired as head coach in 2020, the @Browns are 26-14 (.650) at home, including an 11-4 (.733) at home against the AFC North.
— Dan Murphy (@DMurph_BrownsPR) November 22, 2024
But sure let’s fire Stefanski (sarcasm). Let me be brutally honest here. If Cleveland were to fire Stefanski, not only would it be a huge mistake but you are essentially destroying something that has been built.
Do think it’s notable that everyone outside of Cleveland thinks the Browns would be making a massive mistake by firing Kevin Stefanski.
If they fire him because they’re about to be 2-15, 3-14, etc. it is what it is I guess, but that isn’t going to solve the actual problem. https://t.co/YOegbwQhUl
— Colb (@___Colb___) November 21, 2024
Video of Schefter’s comments on Kevin Stefanski’s job security this morning https://t.co/yjucH0xt49 pic.twitter.com/s8zRJbTHw0
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) November 21, 2024
Browns fans have preached wanting stability at the head coaching spot for years, but when the team finally has it now all of a sudden you want it gone. Yes, the season hasn’t gone the way we wanted but firing Stefanski after one bad year doesn’t solve anything.
Unless the Browns look like they’ve quit, Stefanski shouldn’t get fired. He’s had quite literally one full season of good QB play out of a possible five and he’s made the playoffs twice.
— Mookie Alexander (@mookiealexander) November 22, 2024
I don’t agree with all the things Stefanski has done, but I’ve seen ineptitude coaching in Cleveland for many years. Stefanski isn’t inept.
As mentioned earlier, culture isn’t defined by wins and losses, it’s more that comes with it.
For the Browns fans who want Stefanski gone, I ask this question: Who would you replace him with that is a realistic option?
I am not saying Stefanski is great but he’s good for what the team has had in recent memory. Stefanski has built a culture here in Cleveland, it’s just not the culture you think it is.