Browns’ Kevin Stefanski wins most prestigious award for NFL coaches a second time in four years

Kevin Stefanski recently wrapped up his fourth season with the Cleveland Browns and by doing so has picked up an award for the second time that some coaches never win.

At the NFL honors on Thursday night, Stefanski was named the AP Coach of the Year in the NFL for his efforts in the 2023 season.

Cleveland won 11 games in 2023 and made it to the playoffs where they lost in the wild-card at the hands of the Houston Texans.

Stefanski was named Coach of the Year over Houston Texans’ DeMeco Ryans, Detroit Lions’ Dan Campbell, Baltimore Ravens’ John Harbaugh, and San Francisco 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan.

The Browns were forced to start five different quarterbacks in 2023. Four of them won games and those quarterbacks were Deshaun Watson, P.J. Walker, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and Joe Flacco. Watson did not play after Week 10 and only appeared in six games total.

A bad rash of injuries never ended for the Browns in 2023. They lost RT Jack Conklin for the season in Week 1 and the same happened to RB Nick Chubb the very next week. Cleveland ended up losing both starting offensive tackles, as well as their top backup with rookie Dawand Jones. Multiple other starters were lost during the season, the most significant on defense was Grant Delpit.

The award went to the coach who most deserved it. To do what Stefanski did this season was a major win for Cleveland and the direction of the franchise. Stefanski is due for a contract anytime, so he likely just became a bit more expensive for the Browns and it is a good thing.