Kevin Stefanski’s time in Cleveland is over, but questions about his handling of the Browns offense remain. The Browns fired Stefanski after the 2025 season, ending his tenure following several difficult years with the franchise. His work with Deshaun Watson also remains a major part of the conversation.

Watson struggled considerably during his time under Stefanski, with injuries and inconsistent performances limiting his impact. Now, former NFL receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh believes Watson’s recent improvement raises questions about Stefanski’s role in those struggles.

Speaking on Speakeasy, Houshmandzadeh delivered a brutal assessment of the former Browns coach.

“Stefanski, you're an offensive guy, and your teams can't do s**t. You just left a team in the Cleveland Browns, and Deshaun Watson looks better without you. Way better without you. You may be the reason why Deshaun Watson was looking the way he was looking.”

The Browns have now entered a new era under Todd Monken, though it certainly did not begin smoothly. Cleveland suffered a 34-10 loss to the Jaguars before Watson and the offense responded with a much stronger performance against Tampa Bay.

Watson threw for 238 yards and two touchdowns in the Browns’ 23-19 victory. If that improvement continues, Watson could begin repairing his reputation while simultaneously raising more questions about Stefanski’s inability to maximize him.

Deshaun Watson Could Still Face Plenty of Boos from Browns fans

That improvement does not mean Watson has suddenly won over Browns fans. Michael Irvin previously argued that Watson winning against Tampa Bay was “the last thing” Cleveland wanted after the team had guaranteed him another start.

Irvin pointed out that Watson’s victory effectively bought him another week as the Browns’ quarterback. That matters because some Cleveland supporters had hoped poor performances would force the team toward a change.

Now, Watson could return home with plenty of pressure still surrounding him. A strong performance would help quiet some criticism, but continued struggles could quickly bring those boos back.

Written by

Joseph Nithin