Browns HC takes blame for Shedeur Sanders choice vs. Titans

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) throws a pass against the Tennessee Titans during the fourth quarter at Huntington Bank Field. Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

Browns HC Kevin Stefanski takes blame for questionable Shedeur Sanders choice vs. Titans

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Dec 7, 2025 6:13 PM ET

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders had a career day in Sunday's home game against the Tennessee Titans, but a baffling coaching decision will generate more headlines.

With the Browns trailing the Titans 31-17 with 6:17 remaining in the fourth quarter, Sanders spurred a comeback attempt. He ran for a seven-yard touchdown with 4:27 remaining. The Browns then went for two but failed to convert.

On Cleveland's following drive, Sanders tossed a seven-yard TD to rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. with 1:03 left in the game. Surprisingly, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski then took the QB out.

On a two-point conversion, the coach called a trick play with rookie running back Quinshon Judkins lining up at QB. It ended in disaster. The RB forgot to pitch the ball to rookie wide receiver Gage Larvadain and then lobbed an off-target pass, which fell incomplete. What was Stefanski thinking?

Browns took Shedeur off the field for the game-tying 2PT conversion...

They did not get it.

(via @NFLonFOX)pic.twitter.com/DbiylJcAKH
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 7, 2025

Kevin Stefanski discusses terrible two-point conversion attempt

"That's on me... I'm responsible for all of it," the coach said of the play call in a postgame news conference.

Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees took over play-calling duties in Week 10, but Stefanski said he planned the two-point play before Sanders threw the TD. He should've changed his plans after watching the QB engineer a seven-play, 80-yard drive.

Plus, it didn't make sense to take the ball out of Sanders' hands when he was rolling. The fifth-round pick out of Colorado completed 23-of-42 passes for a season-high 364 yards, three TDs and one interception. He also posted a career-high 97.7 passer rating, above the league average.

Stefanski — who is 6-24 in his past 30 games — is reportedly on the hot seat. His play-calling in Sunday's game should make his seat even warmer.

The coach may not believe Sanders (pick No. 144) is the answer for the Browns, and understandably so. He has yet to complete more than 64% of his passes in a game this season, which is just below the league average.

That still doesn't justify Stefanski pulling the QB on one of the game's defining plays. The coach's choice to sit Sanders on the two-point conversion attempt likely cost the 3-10 Browns another win.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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