CLEVELAND, Ohio — The air in Berea is thick with speculation as the Browns prepare for their Week 18 matchup against Cincinnati. While most fans are focused on Myles Garrett’s pursuit of the NFL sack record, the real intrigue surrounds what happens after the final whistle — specifically, whether Kevin Stefanski will remain as head coach.

The evidence suggesting change is mounting, and as Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot notes on the latest Orange and Brown Talk podcast, the atmosphere around team headquarters is telling.

“Well, there’s something swirling around here, right? I mean, there’s just a vibe. There’s an air of potential change that is hanging over Berea right now,” Cabot explained. “And I don’t know if it’s going to turn out like that, but …”

That uncertainty speaks volumes. Typically, when a coach is secure in their position heading into the offseason, the organization makes that clear. The absence of such assurance from ownership or the front office has become its own story.

“It’s this idea of there’s been no assurances from anyone that that’s not where this is headed,” Browns beat reporter Ashley Bastock pointed out. “So it’s kind of like that silence is screaming right now and it is sort of uncharacteristic when everything is A-OK heading into the off season.”

This silence is particularly puzzling given Stefanski’s credentials — two NFL Coach of the Year awards in six seasons. But back-to-back losing campaigns have apparently put him on thin ice, even with the quarterback carousel the team has endured this season.

The podcast hosts discussed various scenarios, including potential replacements like defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz or even external candidates like Miami’s Mike McDaniel. But the overwhelming sense is that Stefanski’s time may be up.

“I don’t think any of us have a really great handle on it,” Cabot admitted. “I think if we had to guess right now and we were painted into a corner, I think we would all say it seems like he’s going to be gone.”

The unusual lack of communication from the front office has only fueled speculation. Andrew Berry didn’t hold his customary midseason press conference, and the departure of Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta earlier this year has some wondering if bigger organizational changes are afoot.

While the Haslams have embraced stability in recent years — a departure from their earlier tendency to clean house frequently — the current indicators suggest they may be reverting to their old ways.

For Browns fans, Sunday’s game against the Bengals now carries significance beyond the divisional rivalry. It may well be the final time they see Stefanski patrolling the Cleveland sideline.

To hear the full discussion about Stefanski’s future and get the inside scoop on what’s happening in Berea, don’t miss this week’s Orange and Brown Talk podcast, where the team dives deep into the coaching situation and previews the season finale against Cincinnati.

Here’s the podcast for this week:

Listen and subscribe to the Orange and Brown Talk podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Football Insider newsletter free trial: Take a minute and sign up for a free trial of our Football Insider newsletter, featuring exclusive content from cleveland.com’s Browns reporters.