After two playoff appearances, the Cleveland Browns fell off the charts, primarily because of their offense. And a former player has opened up about Kevin Stefanski’s disastrous stint with the Browns. 

On this week's episode of the 4th and South podcast, Jarvis Landry, a former wide receiver, opened up about how and when Stefanski gave up the play-calling duties.

“I know when I was there for 100% fact, when we were struggling as an offense, I know Kevin Stefanski himself gave up playcalling to AVP (Alex Van Pelt),” said Landry.

Initially, people thought the first time Stefanski gave up playcalling was when the Browns hired Ken Dorsey. But according to Juice, the former head coach had been turning things over to the OC years before that.

The Browns made headlines in October 2024 when Stefanksi announced that then-offensive coordinator Ken Dorsy was put in charge of calling plays after a 1-6 start. But with Landry’s admission, it appears that Stefanski had already shed his responsibility to Van Pelt, AVP, who was with the Chiefs till the 2023 season.

Alex Van Pelt's Stint With the Cleveland Browns

Van Pelt joined the franchise in 2020 alongside Stefanski and orchestrated their breakout 11-5 season. The duo pushed the team into their first playoff appearance in 18 years, and Stefanski was even named Coach of the Year for the feat.

The following season, which was also Landry’s last in the Browns, the team went 8-8. Van Pelt continued to amp up the offense as the team reached its second playoff.

Van Pelt was certainly a capable coordinator, but with Landry’s admission, it appears as though he was taking up more than his share of work.

Moreover, Landry's words suggest that Stefanksi made this major decision without informing management, leaving everyone in the dark. And more importantly, questions arise as to why he has done that multiple times.

Stefanski has shared his play-calling duties with offensive coordinator Tommy Rees in 2025 after critics and media called him out relentlessly for the poor records. He has called himself “collaborative” in the past, and that has been a significant trait both in character and strategies. 

After Stefanski was hired as the head coach by the Atlanta Falcons, their player Bijan Robinson said that “Tommy Rees, he's the OC, but he'll call the plays.” Rees and Stefanski’s previous collaborations resulted in embarrassing records, so it becomes dubious for the Falcons to trust the duo.

What are your thoughts? Share them in the comments.

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Sayantan Gayen