The Cleveland Browns firing of head coach Kevin Stefanski after yet another failure of a season revealed once again why the team remains terrible: The refusal by the Browns ownership to admit responsibility for the lack of success.
That was the take Tuesday on the Today in Ohio podcast Tuesday.
“I was so disappointed in this,” Quinn said on the podcast. “This was a chance for Jimmy Haslam to actually show some integrity and character. He should have stood up and said, ‘Folks, this isn’t Kevin Stefanski’s fault. It’s my fault. I did the Watson deal. No sooner did I hire him as coach than I saddled him with the worst quarterback trade in the history of the NFL.’”
The firing of Stefanski, who coached the Browns to two playoff appearances in six seasons—more than the franchise had achieved in the previous 27 years—represents a familiar pattern under Haslam ownership. As host Laura Johnston pointed out, “This is the sixth coach the Haslams have fired since taking over the team in 2012. Doesn’t that say something about them?”
Podcast hosts noted that Stefanski is widely regarded as a talented coach who succeeded despite significant challenges, including having to work with 13 different quarterbacks during his tenure. Notably, though, the Haslams forfeited the team’s future with a disastrous, controversial trade for Deshaun Watson, giving away years of needed draft picks for a quarterback who never made a difference.
Quinn argued the Haslams would have shown grace by taking responsibility for their failures rather than making Stefanski the scapegoat. Instead, the Browns continue a cycle that defines the franchise since the Haslams bought the team. Johnston noted that the decision to retain general manager Andrew Berry while firing Stefanski raised further questions about the organization’s direction and accountability structure.
“Where are the days when people had some steel in their spine and some humility and would stand up and own their mistakes?” Quinn asked. “Everyone knows this: This failure of a team is squarely on the Haslams. Just admit it, apologize for it, and stand by the guy that you’ve never given the players to actually win with, and build him a team.”
The timing of the announcement also struck a sour note, coming just a day after defensive end Myles Garrett set an all-time sacks record—a rare bright spot in an otherwise disappointing season. “It was a moment of triumph followed by a moment of abject shame,” Quinn said.
Listen to full “Today in Ohio” episodes where Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour news podcast, with Editorial Board member Lisa Garvin, Impact Editor Leila Atassi and Content Director Laura Johnston.