A new NFL rumor suggests that if the Cleveland Browns do fire head coach Kevin Stefanski, they may replace him with another AFC coach who could be ousted soon.
It seems like forever ago when Stefanski went 11-5 in his debut season in Cleveland. What made 2020 fill fans with hope is that he did it with former No. 1 pick Baker Mayfield. It seemed like the franchise might finally have that magical combination of a young franchise QB and a talented head coach.
- Kevin Stefanski Record: 44-56
Unfortunately, outside of a wild 11-6 finish in 2023 led by greybeard QB Joe Flacco, the Browns have been a losing team over the last five years. This season has been the worst yet as the team enters Week 18 with a 4-12 record and a messy situation at QB that isn’t offering much hope.
That is why it is no surprise that there has been a lot of speculation that this could be the coach’s final season in Cleveland. But if he is ousted following his sixth season, who could replace him? Browns fans wouldn’t be shocked if it is a former coach who was fired from a team in the last few years but has earned another shot. Such as Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
Mike McDaniel is a Likely Replacement for Kevin Stefanski?
Well, a new report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reveals a former head coach who has been linked to a potential opening with the Browns. However, it’s a coach who could be fired around the same time as Stefanski.
“Here’s something funny. My sense is that McDaniel would be a candidate in Cleveland, should the Dolphins move on and Cleveland’s job open,” Fowler wrote. In the same report, fellow NFL insider Dan Graziano suggested that he is hearing new rumblings from Miami that McDaniel’s job is on shakier ground than it was a few weeks ago.
McDaniel does have a winning record in South Beach (35-32). However, despite some serious talent on the roster during his four seasons, he has just two winning seasons, and that was during his first two years with the team. Miami enters Week 18 with a 7-9 record.
While he seems better than Stefanski on the surface and did some good things with Tua Tagovailoa, he being the replacement for the current coach is unlikely to thrill Browns fans.
