After leading the Cleveland Browns on an improbable playoff berth last season, head coach Kevin Stefanski was named Coach of the Year by the NFL. Now Stefanski appears poised to remain in Cleveland for a good, long while.
On Wednesday, the Browns announced that they have given Stefanski a contract extension. In the same announcement, the team confirmed that general manager Andrew Berry – who joined the team in the same year as Stefanski – would also be receiving one.
Terms of the extension were not disclosed by the team. In a statement, team owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam praised the two for their tireless efforts to make the Browns winners again.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry leading the Cleveland Browns,” the Haslams said. “Since the day they were hired, each has worked tirelessly to help the Cleveland Browns win. We are proud of what they and the team have achieved, but Kevin and Andrew would be the first to say that Browns fans deserve even more. Their leadership, collaborative approach, and ability to overcome obstacles bode well for the future of this franchise.
Stefanski has lifted the Browns to heights they haven’t enjoyed since the late-80s, taking them to the playoffs twice in the last four seasons. This past season their offense ranked in the top 10 for the first time in over 15 years.
Berry has earned his keep as general manager too. While the blockbuster trade for Deshaun Watson hasn’t quite paid dividends for the team yet, his drafting and free agent acquisitions have been a big reason that the Browns have been so formidable these past few years.
Will the Browns reach the AFC Championship Game under this duo?