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Kevin Stefanski
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Kevin Lawrence Stefanski /stəˈfɛnskiː/ (born May 8, 1982) is an American professional football coach who is the head coach for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL).[1] He began his NFL career as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Vikings from 2006 to 2019 and was the offensive coordinator during his final two seasons.[2] Stefanski left Minnesota to become the Browns' head coach in 2020, where he led the team to their first playoff appearance since 2002. He was named NFL Coach of the Year after the season, becoming the first Browns coach to receive the honor since 1976 and the first following the franchise's 1999 return as an expansion team. He led the Browns to a second playoff appearance in 2023, also winning NFL Coach of the Year a second time.
Key Information
Early life and playing career
[edit]Stefanski graduated from St. Joseph's Preparatory School in 2000 and the University of Pennsylvania in 2004. Stefanski played defensive back while at Penn, being named the Quakers Freshman of the Year in 2000. He was part of the only undefeated Penn team of the decade and was twice an All-Ivy League selection.
Coaching career
[edit]Minnesota Vikings assistant
[edit]Stefanski joined the Minnesota Vikings in 2006 as an assistant to then-head coach Brad Childress.[3] In 2009, he was promoted to assistant quarterbacks' coach, where he would serve until the 2013 season and had coached quarterbacks such as Brett Favre and Christian Ponder. Despite the Vikings' ups and downs during his tenure, Stefanski survived 3 coaching changes (Childress, Leslie Frazier, and Mike Zimmer).
In 2017, after Scott Turner was let go, Stefanski was promoted to coach the Vikings quarterbacks, where he helped transform the Vikings into the NFL's 10th-highest scoring offense. Quarterback Case Keenum had his best season under Stefanski, throwing 22 touchdown passes and only seven interceptions.[4] He previously worked with the running backs in 2016 and the tight ends in 2014 and 2015.
After the 2017 season, the New York Giants requested to interview and hire Stefanski as their new offensive coordinator, but the Vikings denied the request.[5]
After offensive coordinator John DeFilippo was fired following a 21–7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Stefanski was named interim offensive coordinator.[6] On January 9, 2019, Stefanski was promoted to full-time offensive coordinator.[7]
Cleveland Browns
[edit]On January 13, 2020, Stefanski signed a five-year contract to become the 18th head coach of the Cleveland Browns, two days after the Minnesota Vikings lost in the NFC playoffs.[8] On September 13, 2020, Stefanski lost his head coaching debut to the Baltimore Ravens by a score of 38–6. The loss marked the 16th consecutive Week 1 without a win for the Browns.[9] On September 17, Stefanski recorded his first career win as a head coach in the 35–30 win against the Cincinnati Bengals.[10]
On December 6, Stefanski became the first Browns head coach since Romeo Crennel in 2007 to lead the franchise to a winning season, securing his ninth win with a 41–35 victory over the Tennessee Titans. Stefanski led the Browns to a 11–5 record, finishing third in the AFC North and clinching the Browns' first playoff berth since 2002. It was also the franchise's best record since their 1999 return.[11] However, Stefanski tested positive for COVID-19 on the Tuesday before the game,[12] preventing him from coaching the wild card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.[13] The Browns went on to defeat the Steelers 48–37, which was their first playoff win since 1994, as well as their first since their 1999 re-activation.[14] He returned to the team on January 14.[13] The Browns lost the following week to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round, 22–17. For his work during the 2020 season, Stefanski was named as the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year.[15] He was the first Browns coach to receive the honor since Forrest Gregg in 1976, in addition to being the first after Cleveland's return in 1999.
During the 2023 Browns season, Stefanski led the team to a second winning season (11–6) along with another playoff appearance becoming the first Browns head coach to lead the team to multiple postseason appearances since Marty Schottenheimer. He again was named Associated Press Coach of the Year.[16] The Browns saw their season end in the Wild Card Round with a 45–14 loss to the Houston Texans.[17]
On June 5, 2024, the Browns signed Stefanski to a contract extension.[18] The Browns faltered to a 3–14 record in the 2024 season.[19]
Head coaching record
[edit]| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| CLE | 2020 | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 3rd in AFC North | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost to Kansas City Chiefs in AFC Divisional Game |
| CLE | 2021 | 8 | 9 | 0 | .471 | 3rd in AFC North | — | — | — | — |
| CLE | 2022 | 7 | 10 | 0 | .438 | 4th in AFC North | — | — | — | — |
| CLE | 2023 | 11 | 6 | 0 | .647 | 2nd in AFC North | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to Houston Texans in AFC Wild Card Game |
| CLE | 2024 | 3 | 14 | 0 | .176 | 4th in AFC North | — | — | — | — |
| CLE | 2025 | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 | TBD in AFC North | — | — | — | — |
| Career | 42 | 51 | 0 | .452 | 1 | 2 | .333 | |||
Personal life
[edit]Stefanski's wife, Michelle, is also from Philadelphia. The couple married in 2007. They have three children together, two sons and a daughter.[20] Stefanski is the son of NBA executive Ed Stefanski.[21]
References
[edit]- ^ Gribble, Andrew (January 13, 2020). "Kevin Stefanski named Browns head coach". ClevelandBrowns.com. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
- ^ "Vikings Name Kevin Stefanski Offensive Coordinator". Vikings.com. January 9, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
- ^ Grlbble, Andrew (January 10, 2020). "5 things to know about Kevin Stefanski". ClevelandBrowns.com. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
- ^ "Case Keenum: Career Stats at NFL.com". NFL.com. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
- ^ Raanan, Jordan (February 11, 2018). "Vikings nix Giants' request to interview, hire Kevin Stefanski for OC, source says". ESPN. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
- ^ Patra, Kevin (December 11, 2018). "Vikings fire offensive coordinator John DeFilippo". NFL.com. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
- ^ Broome, Anthony (January 9, 2019). "Vikings announce Kevin Stefanski as offensive coordinator". Minnesota Vikings. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
- ^ Gribble, Andrew (January 13, 2020). "Kevin Stefanski named Browns head coach". www.clevelandbrowns.com. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
- ^ Cabot, Mary Kay (September 13, 2020). "Browns get blown out by Ravens, 38–6, in Kevin Stefanski's head coaching debut". Cleveland.com.
- ^ Cabot, Mary Kay (September 18, 2020). "Kevin Stefanski praises Baker Mayfield's game vs. the Bengals, but wants him to protect the football". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ^ "Cleveland Browns Team Records, Leaders, and League Ranks". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ^ "Kevin Stefanski tests positive for COVID-19; Mike Priefer to serve as acting Head Coach". ClevelandBrowns.com. January 5, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
- ^ a b Withers, Tom (January 14, 2021). "Stefanski out of basement, back with Browns after COVID-19". APNews.com. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
- ^ "'Kansas City Here We Come': Fans, celebrities react to Cleveland Browns' playoff win over Pittsburgh Steelers". wkyc.com. January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- ^ Edholm, Eric (February 8, 2024). "Browns' Kevin Stefanski named AP 2023 NFL Coach of the Year". NFL.com. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
- ^ Russo, Kelsey (February 8, 2024). "Kevin Stefanski named AP 2023 NFL Coach of the Year". ClevelandBrowns.com. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ Rieken, Kristie (January 14, 2024). "Joe Flacco's incredible run in Cleveland ends as two pick-6's doom Browns in playoff loss to Texans". AP News. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ^ Russo, Kelsey (June 5, 2024). "Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski sign contract extensions with the Browns". ClevelandBrowns.com. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
- ^ Harris, Irie (January 5, 2025). "Kevin Stefanski on finishing 3-14, Ken Dorsey, Deshaun Watson: Transcript". cleveland. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ Kundu, Tamal (December 3, 2024). "Who Is Kevin Stefanski's Wife? Michelle's Kids & Instagram". Yahoo Entertainment. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ Young, Lindsey (June 19, 2017). "Father's NBA Success Inspired Kevin Stefanski to NFL Career". Vikings.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "May/June issue of Northeast Ohio Catholic magazine is on the way". Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. May 6, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
External links
[edit]- [1] Coaching statistics at Pro Football Reference
- Cleveland Browns profile
Kevin Stefanski
View on GrokipediaEarly life
Family background
Kevin Stefanski was born on May 8, 1982, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[10] He grew up in the nearby suburb of Drexel Hill, Delaware County, where his family emphasized both athletic pursuits and education.[21] Stefanski's father, Ed Stefanski, played a pivotal role in shaping his early exposure to professional sports. Ed was a standout college basketball player at the University of Pennsylvania from 1973 to 1976 and was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 10th round of the 1976 NBA Draft, though he never appeared in an NBA game as a player.[22] Transitioning to front-office roles, Ed built a distinguished career as an NBA executive, including positions with the Houston Rockets as vice president of basketball operations from 1994 to 2000, as general manager of the New Jersey Nets from 2004 to 2007, as president and general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers from 2007 to 2011, and as executive vice president of basketball operations for the Toronto Raptors from 2011 to 2013.[23] Ed's achievements provided a model for professional sports careers and ignited Kevin's passion for athletics from a young age.[22] Stefanski's mother, Karen, contributed to a supportive family environment in Drexel Hill that balanced sports with academic focus.[24] Raised in a basketball-oriented household due to his father's background, young Kevin initially showed strong interest in the sport, playing alongside his three brothers.[25] However, he soon recognized his greater aptitude for football and shifted his primary focus to the gridiron, diverging from the family's basketball legacy.[12]High school athletics
Kevin Stefanski attended St. Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia from 1996 to 2000.[10] During his high school years, he excelled in both football and basketball, though he ultimately chose to prioritize football, giving up basketball early in his career despite his family's strong ties to the sport—his father, Ed Stefanski, had been a standout basketball player at the University of Pennsylvania.[26] This decision allowed Stefanski to focus on his development as a quarterback and defensive back, roles in which he demonstrated significant leadership and skill.[27] In football, Stefanski served as the starting quarterback and safety during his junior and senior years (1998–1999), earning first-team All-Catholic honors as a junior and second-team All-Catholic honors as a senior.[28] As team captain, he led St. Joseph's Prep to the Philadelphia Catholic League championship in 1997 as a sophomore and to the title game in 1999, where they fell to Roman Catholic.[26] [27] His senior season statistics included 72 completions out of 146 attempts for 1,080 passing yards and 12 touchdowns, culminating in Catholic League Red MVP honors after edging out future NFL running back Kevin Jones.[29] [30] These performances, combined with his on-field leadership—such as his pre-coin toss rituals as captain—drew attention from Ivy League programs and facilitated his recruitment to the University of Pennsylvania.[27] Stefanski also participated in basketball at St. Joseph's Prep, contributing to the team's efforts during his early years before shifting his focus exclusively to football.[26] Academically, he maintained strong performance at the rigorous preparatory school, which prepared him for success at the collegiate level.[16]College career
University of Pennsylvania
Kevin Stefanski enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania in 2000, following his graduation from St. Joseph's Preparatory School, and earned a bachelor's degree in communications in 2004.[18][31] At Penn, Stefanski played football for the Quakers as a defensive back over five seasons (2000–2004), contributing to Ivy League championship teams in 2000, 2002, and 2003. Building on his high school experience as a quarterback, he adapted to the defensive role and earned recognition for his athleticism and leadership.[24][32] As a freshman in 2000, Stefanski was named the Quakers' Defensive Rookie of the Year, recording 27 tackles (18 solo) and one interception, with a season-high of seven tackles against Harvard. Over his college career, he accumulated 104 tackles (73 solo) and seven interceptions, while earning honorable mention All-Ivy honors in 2002 and 2004; he served as a team captain during his senior season. He was a three-year varsity letter winner and served as tri-captain in 2004.[24][33][9] Although the depth chart limited his starting opportunities early on, Stefanski provided consistent contributions on defense and special teams for the Ivy League program. During his sophomore year in 2001, which was cut short by a season-ending injury after the first game, he gained initial exposure to coaching operations by assisting Penn staff, including driving coaches around campus in a team cart.[34][35]Transition to coaching
Following his graduation from the University of Pennsylvania in 2004 with a degree in communications, Kevin Stefanski transitioned directly into coaching by remaining with the Quakers football program as a graduate assistant.[36] In this entry-level role, he performed essential behind-the-scenes tasks, including film analysis and opponent scouting, which allowed him to apply his recent experience as a defensive back to gain insights into scheme preparation and player evaluation.[34] Stefanski's position provided a practical bridge from playing to coaching, emphasizing the importance of understanding athlete mindsets while building foundational knowledge in defensive strategies. By 2005, Stefanski advanced to assistant director of football operations at Penn under head coach Al Bagnoli, where his duties expanded to include operational support, such as coordinating logistics and contributing to overall program efficiency.[31] This promotion honed his abilities in team management and analytical breakdown of game footage, key elements that would prove vital in his future roles. During these early years, Stefanski absorbed lessons in player development by observing how coaching decisions impacted performance, drawing on his own on-field background to foster a player-centric approach. Stefanski's tenure at Penn also facilitated valuable networking within the Ivy League coaching community, which ultimately opened doors to professional opportunities and led to his first NFL position with the Minnesota Vikings in 2006.[13] These initial experiences at his alma mater laid the groundwork for his emphasis on meticulous preparation and collaborative scheme analysis throughout his career.Professional coaching career
Early roles at Penn and NFL entry
Stefanski entered the NFL in 2006 when newly hired head coach Brad Childress brought him on as an assistant to the head coach for the Minnesota Vikings, a role that involved administrative duties, special projects, and research and development tasks essential to the team's operations.[16][15] His key responsibilities included breaking down game film, preparing opponent scouting reports, and coordinating staff efforts to support coaching preparations.[37] This position marked a direct application of the analytical skills he honed as assistant director of football operations at the University of Pennsylvania, transitioning him into professional football analytics.[38] Stefanski retained his role through the 2007 and 2008 seasons, navigating the staff transitions and internal changes that occurred under Childress amid the Vikings' evolving roster and performance demands.[39][40] During this period, he focused on defensive preparations, contributing to the team's strategic planning.Minnesota Vikings tenure
Stefanski joined the Minnesota Vikings in 2006 as an assistant to head coach Brad Childress, initially handling administrative duties and gaining a broad understanding of team operations, including defensive preparations that informed his later offensive expertise.[15] By 2009, he transitioned to assistant quarterbacks coach, a role he held through 2013 under coordinators Darrell Bevell and Bill Musgrave, where he contributed to the development of quarterbacks like Brett Favre in his final NFL season and Christian Ponder during his rookie years.[16] This period spanned the end of Childress's tenure and the interim and full stints of Leslie Frazier as head coach from 2010 to 2012, requiring Stefanski to adapt to shifting offensive philosophies amid three head coaching changes.[41] In 2014, under new head coach Mike Zimmer, Stefanski was promoted to tight ends coach, a position he maintained through 2015, during which he helped refine the unit's blocking and receiving skills, notably supporting Kyle Rudolph in maintaining productivity with 483 receiving yards in 2014 and 572 in 2015 despite evolving schemes.[10] He then shifted to running backs coach in 2016, overseeing a group that included Adrian Peterson's return from injury and Jerick McKinnon's versatility, as the Vikings achieved an 8-8 record while balancing run-heavy approaches.[16] By 2017, Stefanski advanced to quarterbacks coach, mentoring Case Keenum through an unexpected 11-3 regular-season start that propelled the team to the NFC Championship Game, where Keenum threw for 1,357 yards and 7 touchdowns in the postseason.[42] Stefanski retained the quarterbacks coach role in 2018, assisting Kirk Cousins in his debut season with the Vikings, which ended in an 8-7-1 record and an NFC Wild Card berth despite midseason offensive coordinator changes that saw him serve as interim OC for the final three games.[10] His promotion to full-time offensive coordinator in January 2019 marked the culmination of his progression, as he implemented a run-first scheme augmented by play-action passes, powering running back Dalvin Cook to 1,557 rushing yards and helping the Vikings to a 10-6 record.[16] Under Stefanski's coordination, the offense ranked eighth in points per game at 25.4 and seventh in rushing yards league-wide, securing another NFC playoff appearance before a Wild Card exit.[43]Cleveland Browns head coach
On January 13, 2020, the Cleveland Browns hired Kevin Stefanski as their 18th full-time head coach, selecting him after his successful tenure as offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, where he had implemented a balanced, efficient scheme that revitalized the team's offense.[44] Stefanski's arrival marked a shift toward a run-heavy, relationship-driven approach, drawing from his Vikings experience to establish a foundational offensive identity for the Browns centered on quarterback development and complementary football. In his debut 2020 season, Stefanski guided the Browns to an 11-5 regular-season record amid the challenges of COVID-19 protocols, including virtual offseasons and multiple facility closures, while fostering the growth of quarterback Baker Mayfield, who threw for over 3,700 yards and 26 touchdowns in a more structured system.[45] The team secured its first playoff appearance since 2002 and a wild-card victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers—the franchise's first postseason win in 18 years—with Stefanski earning Associated Press (AP) and Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) Coach of the Year honors for his leadership through adversity.[46][47] The following year, 2021, saw an 8-9 finish with a deliberate emphasis on the run game, where running back Nick Chubb amassed 1,016 yards despite injuries, though the team missed the playoffs amid offensive inconsistencies.[48] In 2022, the Browns ended 7-10, impacted by the midseason acquisition and subsequent 11-game suspension of quarterback Deshaun Watson for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, which disrupted offensive continuity and quarterback stability.[49] Stefanski rebounded in 2023 with an 11-6 record, navigating a rash of injuries—including season-ending ailments to key players—that forced the use of four different starting quarterbacks, yet still clinching a playoff spot and a wild-card win over the Houston Texans; he captured AP Coach of the Year on a tiebreaker over Texans coach DeMeco Ryans.[50][11] The 2024 campaign faltered to a 3-14 mark, hampered by offensive struggles and a quarterback carousel triggered by Watson's midseason Achilles injury in Week 7, with subsequent starts by Jameis Winston (Weeks 8-16), Dorian Thompson-Robinson (Week 17), and Bailey Zappe (Week 18) amid broader lineup instability.[51] The 2025 season concluded with a 5-12 record, continuing to rely on defensive strengths amid ongoing offensive challenges. Following the season, the Browns fired Stefanski on January 5, 2026.[52] Subsequently, Stefanski interviewed with several teams for head coaching vacancies, including the New York Giants on January 7, 2026, the Las Vegas Raiders on January 8, 2026, the Tennessee Titans on January 10, 2026, and the Atlanta Falcons on January 11, 2026, where Matt Ryan, newly appointed as Falcons President of Football on January 10, 2026, was involved in the team's coaching search efforts.[53][52][54][55][5][56] Throughout his tenure, Stefanski has emphasized relationship-based leadership to build trust and accountability, adapting play-calling to personnel changes and demonstrating resilience against injuries by leveraging depth and scheme flexibility to sustain competitiveness.[57][58][11]Coaching record and achievements
Regular season and postseason records
Kevin Stefanski served as head coach of the Cleveland Browns from 2020 to 2025, compiling a regular season record of 45–56 (.446). He was relieved of his duties on January 4, 2026.[10][1]| Year | Team | Games | Wins | Losses | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | CLE | 16 | 11 | 5 | .688 |
| 2021 | CLE | 17 | 8 | 9 | .471 |
| 2022 | CLE | 17 | 7 | 10 | .412 |
| 2023 | CLE | 17 | 11 | 6 | .647 |
| 2024 | CLE | 17 | 3 | 14 | .176 |
| 2025 | CLE | 17 | 5 | 12 | .294 |
| Total | CLE | 101 | 45 | 56 | .446 |
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Wild Card | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 48–37 (Stefanski absent due to COVID-19; coached by interim Mike Priefer) |
| 2020 | Divisional | Kansas City Chiefs | L 17–22 |
| 2023 | Wild Card | Houston Texans | L 14–45 |