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The Phoenix–Cleveland connection is alive and well.
Not long after the Suns hired former Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott as their new head coach, they added longtime NBA executive Ed Stefanski to the front office. Cleveland fans will recognize that name — as Ed is the father of Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski.
Per Marc Stein of The Stein Line, Ed joins Phoenix as a front office adviser.
And make no mistake, Ed’s résumé in basketball is extensive. Far longer than Kevin’s NFL run, in fact.
A 10th-round pick by the 76ers in 1976, Stefanski made his mark as an executive rather than a player. He climbed the ranks with the Nets from 1999–2007, serving as director of scouting, senior VP of basketball ops, and eventually general manager.
From there, he spent four years running the 76ers, then moved north to serve as executive VP of basketball operations for the Raptors from 2011–2013.
After a stint in the Grizzlies’ front office, Stefanski was named senior adviser to the Pistons in 2018, where he helped oversee basketball operations through multiple regime changes.
In 2020, he even received a third-place vote for NBA Executive of the Year, a nod to his longevity and influence around the league.
While Ed built front offices, Kevin Stefanski turned to football. Hired in January 2020, he led the Browns to their first playoff berth since 2002 during his debut season — earning NFL Coach of the Year honors after an 11–5 campaign.
Under his watch, the Browns have delivered multiple winning seasons and playoff appearances for the first time since the Marty Schottenheimer era. He picked up a second Coach of the Year award in 2023 before signing a contract extension the following summer.
But it’s been a real struggle lately, as the Browns slogged through a 3-14 season last year. They’re also just 1-3 entering Sunday’s game against the Vikings in London.
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