The Haslams expressed their deep appreciation for Stefanski’s tenure, writing, “We have tremendous gratitude for Kevin’s leadership of the Cleveland Browns over the past six seasons. He is a good football coach and an even better person. We appreciate all of his hard work and dedication to our organization.”
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However, they made it clear that recent results forced the change. “Our results over the past two seasons have not been satisfactory and we believe a change in the head coaching position is necessary,” the statement said, confirming speculation that the team’s playoff appearances were the main catalyst for the move. The owners concluded their comments about Stefanski by wishing him, his wife Michelle and their family “all the best in the future.”
Looking ahead, the Haslams reaffirmed their commitment to the structure and success of the franchise. It was explicitly confirmed that general manager Andrew Berry will remain in his role and continue to lead football operations. The ownership group emphasized that the main goal is to bring the long-awaited success to the fan base. “Our entire focus is on building a team that provides our fans with the success they have long deserved, and we will continue to work tirelessly to achieve that goal and invest every resource necessary to build a winning football program,” they stated.
Andrew Berry will immediately lead the search for Stefanski’s successor. The Haslams noted that Berry will “immediately begin our exhaustive process to find an outstanding new head coach and leader of our football team.”
They expressed optimism about the team’s foundation and concluded that there is “an exciting young core to build upon, and Andrew and his team intend to add talent to this core and build a roster that can achieve sustainable success.” This concludes an important chapter for the franchise, beginning a new search for a head coach who the Haslams hope will maximize the team’s potential.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns owner releases statement on Kevin Stefanski firing