Browns owner Jimmy Haslam addresses Kevin Stefanski, Andrew Berry decisions

As was expected, the Cleveland Browns confirmed on Monday that they had relieved head coach Kevin Stefanski of his duties. 

Additionally, the Browns announced that general manager Andrew Berry will remain in his role and lead the process "to find an outstanding new head coach and leader of our football team." Later on Monday morning, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam addressed his decisions.

Jimmy Haslam takes "full responsibility" for Browns' record since 2024

"Ownership takes full responsibility for where we are," Haslam said about the Browns' 8-26 record from Week 1 of the 2024 season through Sunday afternoon, per Daryl Ruiter of Cleveland sports radio station 92.3 The Fan. "...To win eight games in the last two years is unacceptable…we are going to give you a better product…our fans deserve better."

Haslam previously accepted blame for the club acquiring quarterback Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans in March 2022 and for the Browns signing Watson to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract. Watson has since made just 19 regular-season starts for Cleveland, and it's unclear if he'll ever take another in-game snap for the franchise. 

As Ruiter noted, Haslam praised Berry's work over the past year while explaining why the executive wasn't also shown the door on Monday. Specifically, defensive tackle Mason Graham, running back Quinshon Judkins, tight end Harold Fannin Jr., running back Dylan Sampson and quarterback Shedeur Sanders all contributed for the Browns as rookies. Meanwhile, DraftKings Sportsbook had Cleveland linebacker and second-round draft choice Carson Schwesinger as the betting favorite at -550 odds to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award as of Monday. 

Jimmy Haslam clearly blames Kevin Stefanski for Browns' 5-12 record

Per Ruiter, Haslam said that he felt the Browns' 2025 roster "was good enough to win more" than just five games. Such a comment shows why Berry and not Stefanski stayed employed on the NFL's "Black Monday." 

"Some of you have said this is a dysfunctional building," Haslam added during his comments, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. "I take huge exception to that. If anybody says this is dysfunctional or the two of them (Berry and Stefanski) didn’t work well (together), that’s dead wrong." 

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and Cleveland defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz were previously named as possible replacements for Stefanski. ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi shared that Haslam said the Browns won't necessarily prefer either offensive-minded or defensive-minded candidates during the hiring process. 

"We think a lot of Jim Schwartz," Haslam acknowledged, per Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.