Heda coach Kevin Stefasnki has to bear the brunt of this season’s performances.

From aggressive fan reactions to devising and blunt questions, Stefanski has been blamed entirely for the Browns’ frustrating 4-12 season. But a veteran player disapproved of the treatment his coach has been receiving.  

In a media session on Thursday, cornerback Denzel Ward spoke up for his Stefanski and shared accountability for the team’s performance. 

“Our record isn’t the best record, but it's not just one person or one coach,” he said. “It falls on his hands in a sense, that’s why the outside world sees it as his fault.”

In Week 15, when the Browns were playing against the Bills, Stefanski was subjected to aggressive booing. While some say it was towards rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who has replaced an injured Shedeur Sanders, the bottom line remains that Stefanski has lost the public’s favor.

Critics and the audience seem to have forgotten that Stefanski ended the 19-year-old playoff drought and led the Browns into postseason matches in 2020 and 2023. He was awarded AP Coach of the Year for the success this franchise found under him. 

“He’s a great coach. I mean, I just said, we’re all in this together,” Ward backed Stefanski.

Losing Is A Team Sport

The Browns have underperformed for a number of reasons. Denzel Ward had suffered a calf injury in Week 14 against the Tennessee Titans and was among many players who were absent due to injuries. Rookie Quinshon Judkins, who was the team’s lead rusher with 827 yards and 7 touchdowns, sustained a season-ending injury that required surgery. 

The Browns missed running back Dylan Sampson, linebacker Winston Reid, and guard Joel Bitonio on the field, too.

Stefanski has managed a season without reliable veterans and inexperienced rookies. Many critics, like sports commentator Daryl Ruiter, believe it is not his fault but Andrew Berry’s, the Browns' general manager.  Berry is responsible for the draft picks.

“He had a team built to win consistently and ruined it. He put together the worst WR room in the NFL, the OL is in shambles,” Ruiter said.

Ward, like Bitono, has spoken for Stefanski, who maintains his focus on games.

 “The fault is on all of us. It falls on me, every single player that’s going out there. We gotta…all own it,” he said.

Is Stefanski’s treatment this season uncalled for? Are fans looking at only one side of the story? What do you think?

Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Joyita Das