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Stefanski, who joined the Browns in January 2020 after a long stint in various positions with the Minnesota Vikings, has the most wins by a freshman Browns head coach as Paul Brown was 12 in the inaugural season of the team in 1946. His winning percentage (.688) was the best since Blanton Collier (.714) in 1963 and the third best overall in franchise history.
Stefanski’s 11 regular season wins were the most scored by any first-year head coach in 2020 and this is only the 11th time since 1970 that a freshman coach has won 11 or more games. . The Browns were the only team to make the playoffs this season with a first-year head coach.
Cleveland was one of four teams in the league not to lose back-to-back games, which was another credit for Stefanski’s leadership, Berry said.
“Every Monday winning or losing was really the same for us,” Berry said. “He really did a great job protecting our cocoon, so to speak. The season can be emotional. It can be especially emotional on the outside, whether you have a big win or an ugly loss. Kevin’s was when we got there on Monday we should be looking to improve and we should be looking to work. He should really feel the same regardless of Sunday’s result. It’s an honor to his steady hand. “
Stefanski was also the playmaker for a Browns offense that posted some of his best numbers in generations.
Cleveland’s 408 points were his second-most points in franchise history, with the Browns finishing third in the league in rushing averaging 148.4 yards per game (best since 1978) and 12th overall. quarterback ranking (96.6). Under Stefanski’s tutelage, third-year quarterback Baker Mayfield saw his quarterback rating drop from 78.8 in 2019 to 95.9 in 2020 while increasing his touchdown passes (22 to 26) and drastically reducing his interceptions (21 to 8).
Stefanski did it all by navigating the new realities and standards presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, making his first year on the job a unique experience. Browns chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta recalled a conversation he had with Stefanski last March, when Stefanski jokingly asked him, “Where is he in the first head coach handbook?” year on managing a global pandemic?
“That’s kind of how he’s tackled everything all year – a sense of calm, a great sense of humor, fearless no matter what challenges have been thrown at him,” DePodesta said. “He was open-minded and flexible to deal with whatever was going on on and off the pitch. Even in these really tough times, being himself and being genuine. All of these things were obvious to our players and felt like a are ultimately translated into a phenomenal phenomenon. year as a head coach. “
Stefanski’s first off-season schedule, where the team installed a whole new offensive and defensive system, was entirely virtual and he led the vast majority from his former home in Minneapolis. Stefanski and his coaching staff didn’t meet most of the players in person until training camp, which was completely redesigned to adhere to league protocols. In the second half of the season, the Browns faced numerous stoppages and restart their schedule, including complete closures of the team’s facilities, due to positive COVID-19 tests. Stefanski, himself, tested positive in the days leading up to the Browns’ Wild Card win over the Steelers and, with a handful of players and assistant coaches, was forced to miss the trip to Pittsburgh.
From start to finish, Stefanski presented an unapologetic, following mindset that permeated the entire organization.
“There has never been a feeling of sorry for ourselves or the proverbial ‘here we go again’,” DePodesta said.
“You think about what he’s had to go through this year. In the end, he didn’t just endure – he thrived.
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