Tag: Stefanski

Falcons retaining defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich

Posted on | by Field Level Media

New Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski will retain defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, the team announced Monday.

Ulbrich agreed to a new three-year deal, according to an NFL Network report.

Ulbrich arrived in Atlanta ahead of the 2025 season after serving as the New York Jets defensive coordinator (2021-24) and interim head coach after Robert Saleh’s firing in October 2024.

He inherited a unit that was 23rd in total defense (345.2 yards per game) and scoring defense (24.9) in 2024. After a draft where the team almost exclusively drafted defensive players, his defense set a franchise record with 57 sacks (second to the Denver Broncos in the NFL), ranking 15th in total defense (326.8) and 19th in scoring defense (23.6).

This is Ulbrich’s second stint in Atlanta. He was previously the Falcons’ linebackers coach from 2015-19, also taking on assistant head coach and then interim DC duties in 2020 before leaving for New York.

Ulbrich, 48, was a third-round pick in the 2000 NFL Draft out of Hawaii and played 10 seasons as a linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers. He appeared in 120 games (75 starts) and recorded 501 tackles, 5.5 sacks and two interceptions.

–Field Level Media

Falcons interview Kevin Stefanski for coaching vacancy

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Atlanta Falcons interviewed two-time NFL Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski for their head-coaching vacancy on Sunday.

Stefanski is the fourth candidate to be interviewed as the club searches for a replacement for the fired Raheem Morris.

Stefanski was dismissed by the Cleveland Browns following the regular season, ending a six-year stint (2020-25) with the team. The Browns were just 8-26 over the past two seasons and Stefanski went 45-56 overall.

The Browns made the playoffs twice under Stefanski, and the team’s postseason win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Jan. 10, 2021, is the only one the franchise has achieved since it was restored in 1999.

However, Stefanski wasn’t on the sidelines on the day of the playoff win due to a bout with COVID-19.

Stefanski, 43, earned the top coach honors in 2020 and 2023 when the Browns won 11 games each season. Those were his lone winning seasons with Cleveland.

Atlanta is the fourth team to interview Stefanski. The Baltimore Ravens interviewed him on Friday and Stefanski also interviewed with the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders.

The Falcons previously interviewed Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde.

–Field Level Media

Browns fire two-time Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski, retain GM

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Browns general manager Andrew Berry was spared but head coach Kevin Stefanski is out in Cleveland.

Franchise owner Jimmy Haslam confirmed the move Monday after the Browns ended the 2025 season with a 5-12 record.

“This was a difficult decision and today is a tough day for our organization because of the impact Kevin has had and the deep, meaningful relationships he has built across our building,” said Berry, who also holds the title of executive vice president of football operations. “We have great respect for Kevin, who has led our organization through both unique and challenging circumstances over his six seasons. Over that time, he has been more than a coach but also a partner, friend and stabilizing force for our team.

“… I am disappointed that we could not accomplish more together and the collective underperformance of our group is something I own. “

Stefanski, 43, had a 45-56 record over six seasons, but said in a statement on Monday he will depart with a “sense of gratitude.”

“When I arrived in January of 2020, this organization, this community and Browns fans embraced me and my family with open arms. I cannot express properly in words how good we have been treated. A sincere ‘Thank You’ to everyone who I have been so blessed to work for and with over these six seasons. I’d like to especially thank my coaching staff and the players who did everything that was ever asked of them. They fought through injury and adversity, while always putting the TEAM FIRST. I wish all of you nothing but success.”

Haslam also voiced gratitude for Stefanski’s leadership in a tenure that was disrupted months after his hire by the COVID-19 pandemic and genuine care for his personnel.

“He is a good football coach and an even better person. We appreciate all his hard work and dedication to our organization, but our results over the last two seasons have not been satisfactory, and we believe a change at the head coaching position is necessary,” Haslam and his wife, Dee, said in a statement Monday.

Hired in January 2020, Stefanski won 11 games in his first season and led the team to two playoff appearances and two 11-win seasons. and is one of 16 coaches in the history of the NFL Coach of the Year award (established 1957) to win it twice.

Stefanski and Pro Football Hall of Fame member Paul Brown (1951 and 1953) as the only coaches in team history to record multiple seasons with at least 11 regular-season wins.

–Field Level Media

Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees at team headquarters in Berea, Ohio.

Browns’ Kevin Stefanski hands play-calling duties to OC Tommy Rees

Posted on | by Field Level Media

For the second straight season, Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski is giving up play-calling duties.

Stefanski announced on Monday that he is turning the playbook over to offensive coordinator Tommy Rees.

The move comes after a 2-6 start for the Browns, who are preparing to visit the New York Jets (1-7) on Sunday following their bye week.

Last season, the Browns were 1-6 when Stefanski handed play-calling responsibilities to offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey. After Cleveland finished 3-14, Dorsey was fired.

Rees is in his first season as an NFL offensive coordinator. He held that role at Alabama (2023) and Notre Dame (2020-22) before joining Stefanski’s staff as a pass game specialist and tight ends coach in 2024.

“I think Tommy’s going to be himself, and that’s what I’m asking him to do,” Stefanski said. “I’ll be there every step of the way to help him in any way I can, like you should with any play-caller. But bottom line is, he understands what we need to do, which is to stay on the field and score some points.”

As of Monday, only the Tennessee Titans (244.0) are averaging fewer yards per game this season than the Browns (263.5). Only the Titans (14.4) and New Orleans Saints (15.3) are scoring fewer points than Cleveland (15.8).

In their most recent game, the Browns were outgained 422-213 in a 32-13 road loss to the New England Patriots on Oct. 26.

Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco started the first four games of the season before the Browns handed the reins to rookie Dillon Gabriel, later trading Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals.

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images

Browns not considering QB change despite Joe Flacco’s struggles

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Cleveland Browns are 0-2 and have scored just 33 total points so far, but coach Kevin Stefanski claimed that the team isn’t considering a change at quarterback.

Joe Flacco started the first two games of the season and has not been effective. Late in Sunday’s 41-17 road blowout at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens, he was replaced by rookie Dillon Gabriel, who led a touchdown drive.

Asked if the Browns will think about a permanent change, Stefanski answered in the negative.

“I don’t think we did good enough. I think that collectively as a team, we as an offense, we as the coaching staff, all of us didn’t do a good enough job,” Stefanski said.

Flacco, 40, finished the day 25-for-45 passing for 199 yards — just 4.4 yards per attempt — with one touchdown and one interception. He also lost a fumble. He had 290 passing yards and a touchdown in a Week 1 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals but was picked off twice.

Gabriel, 24, made his NFL debut in the fourth quarter and completed all three of his passes for 19 yards, the last one an 8-yard touchdown to Dylan Sampson.

Gabriel is the second-string quarterback on Cleveland’s depth chart, and Shedeur Sanders is the third-stringer. Both were taken in the middle rounds of the NFL draft this past April.

Flacco, who was given the starting job in camp at the outset of his 18th NFL season, said he can’t worry about his job security.

“It’s honestly not on my mind,” Flacco said. “I got to go out there and just play my game, play the way I know how to. Lead this team the best I can. All that other stuff, it is out of my control. It is what it is. I mean, the only thing I can control is how I play and how this team shows up every day. So, it really isn’t in the thought process.”

–Field Level Media

Jul 28, 2025; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel (5) and quarterback Joe Flacco (15) throw passes during training camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Shedeur Sanders hurt, Dillon Gabriel to start vs. Eagles if healthy

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cleveland plans to start another rookie quarterback when the Browns visit the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday afternoon.

If third-round pick Dillon Gabriel’s hamstring holds up through joint practices with the Eagles this week, he’ll take his turn as Cleveland’s QB1 following a strong debut from fifth-round quarterback Shedeur Sanders last week.

“The plan was always to give both of those guys starts in the preseason, so we’ll see how it shakes out,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said on Wednesday, adding Gabriel had to clear hurdles with a sore hamstring the next two days if he wants to take the field first this weekend.

Stefanski made the comments before the team practiced on Wednesday, and prior to what could be an obstacle to Sanders building on his first outing and claiming a significant role.

Sanders halted participation in throwing drills and appeared to be injured in Wednesday’s joint practice with the Eagles, further complicating matters for Stefanski.

Kenny Pickett, acquired from the Eagles in an offseason trade, is not available for 11-on-11 work because of a hamstring injury.

There’s only one quarterback on the roster who hasn’t been sent to the training tent this summer.

Cleveland hasn’t committed to playing Joe Flacco, the purported No. 1 QB on the depth chart, in preseason games to preserve the 40-year-old’s health.

Gabriel was selected 94th overall in the 2025 draft after putting up big numbers at three college stops: UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon. Still on the board 50 picks later, the Browns chose Sanders to end a well-publicized draft weekend crash from projections of a top-50 draft rating.

Gabriel said he won’t put too much in the opportunity if he starts against the reigning Super Bowl champions.

“I try to just stay in the moment. I’ll look forward to that moment once it comes and be right where my feet are,” Gabriel said. “The best competitors know how to stay present and be themselves by competing at a high level one play at a time.”

Sanders received high marks from Stefanski after the Browns’ coaching staff reviewed the film of his two-TD showing in last Friday’s win over the Carolina Panthers.

“Certainly, for a quarterback, that next step is getting in the game settings and taking the practice field to the game. And I thought that’s what we saw by and large from Shedeur (Sanders),” Stefanski said. “That’s what we saw by and large from our offense was really taking those things that we’re homing in on, on the practice field and then showing them in the games, and it goes back to the previous point where we want to vary our offense.”

–Field Level Media

Jul 26, 2025; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) runs the offense during training camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Browns QB Shedeur Sanders held out of practice with arm soreness

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders did not take part in team drills on Saturday because of arm soreness, the team said.

In addition, a shoulder ailment kept cornerback Greg Newsome II out of practice, and he is considered day to day, coach Kevin Stefanski said.

Defensive end Myles Garrett also sat out Saturday for what Stefanski called precautionary reasons, and quarterback Kenny Pickett, who injured a hamstring earlier this week, took part only in individual drills.

With the absence of Sanders and Pickett from team drills, veteran quarterback Joe Flacco and rookie Dillon Gabriel shared the reps.

ESPN Cleveland reported Flacco was 11-of-18 passing and Gabriel 11-of-22, with each throwing a touchdown at practice.

On Friday, Flacco was 9-of-13 with two scores and Sanders went 7-of-10 with a touchdownl, per ESPN Cleveland.

Gabriel struggled, finishing the Friday session 3-for-14 passing with an interception.

The Browns open the preseason on Aug. 8 at the Carolina Panthers and the regular season on Sept. 7 with a home game against division rival Cincinnati.

–Field Level Media

Dec 8, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston (5) passes against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Browns staying with Jameis Winston as QB1 despite no playoffs

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Cleveland Browns have no mathematical chance to make the playoffs, but their focus remains on winning games rather than evaluating talent on the bench, according to coach Kevin Stefanski.

The Browns will keep Jameis Winston as the starting quarterback this week when they host the Kansas City Chiefs, Stefanski said Monday.

With Deshaun Watson lost for the season due to a ruptured right Achilles tendon, the alternative to Winston would be to start 2023 fifth-round draft pick Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who made three starts during his rookie campaign.

“Our focus right now is just trying to find ways to get a win,” Stefanski said, throwing cold water on the idea that the Browns might give Thompson-Robinson late-season game reps.

The Browns (3-10) were 1-6 in Watson’s seven starts and have beaten the division rival Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers since Winston took over. But they were eliminated from playoff contention Sunday when the Steelers got revenge in a 27-14 win over visiting Cleveland.

Winston, 30, has thrown for 1,975 yards with 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions across 11 games (six starts) this season. Thompson-Robinson got into three games earlier this year and went 11-for-25 passing for 82 yards and two interceptions.

–Field Level Media

Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) against the Philadelphia Eagles during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Kevin Stefanski denies owner override as Browns stick with Deshaun Watson

Posted on | by Field Level Media

No quarterback controversy exists in Cleveland, according to head coach Kevin Stefanski. He’s sticking with Deshaun Watson as QB1 of the Browns.

Cleveland is 1-5 after a 20-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, and Watson insisted postgame the Browns “have to do something” after he was sacked five times and held below 200 passing yards for the sixth consecutive game.

“I think Deshaun gives us the best chance to win, continues to give us the best chance to win,” Stefanski said Monday as calls for Watson to be benched for backup Jameis Winston grew louder.

Stefanski said Browns owner Jimmy Haslam remains supportive and didn’t meddle in any football decisions, including the call to keep Watson atop the quarterback depth chart to face the Cincinnati Bengals (2-4) this week.

Watson was 16 of 29 for 154 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the 2023 opener against the Bengals, won by Cleveland 24-3.

“We have a good dialogue with myself, (general manager) Andrew (Berry), ownership. Any decision when it comes to football is my decision,” Stefanski said.

Between injuries on the offensive line and lagging production, Watson isn’t solely to blame for the Browns’ poor start.

The Browns are 30th in scoring (15.8 points per game), 32nd in sacks allowed (31) and tied for a league-low two rushing touchdowns.

Watson is 28th in the NFL in completion percentage (61.3) and tied for 25th with five touchdown passes.

–Field Level Media

Oct 13, 2024; London, United Kingdom; Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Pederson reacts during the first half against the Chicago Bears during an NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Next NFL coach fired? Trio of favorites emerges

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The proverbial first shoe dropped in the NFL head coaching carousel when the New York Jets fired Robert Saleh last week.

After Week 6 brought several more lackluster — and some blowout — losses by other highly disappointing teams, the seats have become increasingly hot under several other coaches.

The leading “candidate” to be the next coach fired is Jacksonville’s Doug Pederson, who is the odds-on favorite at -140 by SportsBetting.ag. The Jaguars, a preseason pick by many analysts to be a contender in the AFC, fell to 1-5 following a 19-point loss to the Bears at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Sunday.

The book is offering odds on 17 candidates, although it’s a small group that is reasonably facing potential pink slips in the near future.

NEXT NFL COACH FIRED ODDS*
Doug Pederson, Jaguars (-140)
Mike McCarthy, Cowboys (+400)
Kevin Stefanski, Browns (+550)
Antonio Pierce, Raiders (+600)
Zac Taylor, Bengals (+900)
Dennis Allen, Saints (+1600)
Nick Sirianni, Eagles (+1800)
Brian Daboll, Giants (+2000)
Brian Callahan, Titans (+3300)
Jerod Mayo, Patriots (+4500)
Matt Eberflus, Bears (+5000)
Shane Steichen, Colts (+5000)
Sean McVay, Rams (+5000)
Mike McDaniel, Dolphins (+5000)
Todd Bowles, Buccaneers (+6600)
Sean Payton, Broncos (+7500)
Dave Canales, Cardinals (+10000)
*SportsBetting.ag odds provided for entertainment purposes only.

Pederson said Monday that he doesn’t believe a coaching change is what’s needed for Jacksonville to turn its season around. He likely has another week to prove as much to owner Shad Khan with the Jaguars staying in London ahead of next weekend’s game against the New England Patriots (1-5). Khan gave Pederson a vote of confidence last week — before the 35-16 loss to the Bears.

The Jaguars are already on the brink of being out of the AFC playoff picture, and the road doesn’t get any easier when they return to the United States. They’ll play the Green Bay Packers (4-2) on Oct. 27, at Philadelphia (currently 3-2) in a primetime game on Nov. 3, undefeated Minnesota (5-0) on Nov. 10 and at the Detroit Lions (4-1) on Nov. 17 before Jacksonville’s bye in Week 12. On the other side is AFC South-leading Houston (5-1) on Dec. 1.

JERRY STAYING THE COURSE?
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones insisted he isn’t considering a coach change after Dallas was embarrassed 47-9 at home by Detroit on Sunday — his 82nd birthday.

“I’m not considering that. Just so you’re clear, I’m not considering that,” Jones said Sunday night.

At 3-3 entering the bye week, the Cowboys are winless at home and 3-0 on the road to sit in third place in the NFC East behind the Washington Commanders (4-2) and Philadelphia Eagles (3-2). Eleven NFC teams have three or more wins but Dallas has allowed 168 points for a score differential of minus-42. In the conference, that’s 15th out of 16 teams and better than only the 1-5 Carolina Panthers (203 points allowed).

The Cowboys expect to get injured All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons (ankle) and Pro Bowl cornerback DaRon Bland (foot) back after their bye, with defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (foot) recovering on injured reserve.

CLEVELAND CONUNDRUM
Like Jacksonville, Cleveland was a popular preseason pick to give Kansas City and Buffalo a serious run in the AFC. Powered by last season’s stout defense and offseason additions that included wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, expectations were sky high.

However, the Browns are now also 1-5 after dropping their fourth consecutive game on Sunday. Cleveland has a minus-46 point differential, and there are calls for quarterback Deshaun Watson and his $230 million guaranteed contract to be benched.

Stefanski also finds himself on the hot seat just four months after signing a contract extension, and eight months after winning his second NFL Coach of the Year honor.

Cleveland does have an opportunity to right its ship, with three consecutive home games coming up. It begins Sunday with the Browns opening their AFC North slate against Cincinnati (2-4), and with the expectation of running back Nick Chubb returning to the lineup.

“The chance is there, the opportunity is there,” Watson said Sunday. “We’ve just got to take it one week at a time and just try to find a different way.”

–Field Level Media