CINCINNATI \u2014 Shedeur Sanders, who led the Browns on the gamewinning field goal drive during Sunday\u2019s 20-18 victory over the Bengals in the season finale, acknowledged that he learned a lot from Kevin Stefanski, who could be fired on Monday morning. <\/p>\n
The Browns\u2019 fifth-round pick out of Colorado, Sanders spent countless hours in Stefanski\u2019s office, pouring over practice film with the coach to get up to speed. Throughout Sanders\u2019 seven starts, he made progress despite playing behind a patchwork offensive line and with a rookie-heavy supporting cast. <\/p>\n
But Sanders (11 of 22, 111 yard, six sacks, 0 TD, 0 INT, 64.8 rating) finished 3-4 in his seven starts \u2014 albeit with plenty of help from his dominant defense \u2014 including back-to-back victories over the Steelers and Bengals. <\/p>\n
\u201cCoach Kev, he\u2019s been real tough,\u201d Sanders said. \u201cHe\u2019s been tough. And it\u2019s good. I think I grew and learned a lot from him. This week we had a conversation, just about things in general. I feel like we grew to understand each other. We share different things that we both will go through. I know he wanted this win, and I know he wants every win, but I know this one means a lot. I wish we as a team, and I wish everybody, could have more (wins), personally, within this last year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stefanski, fresh off a jubilant celebration in the locker room after the victory, Bengals in the season finale, declined to address reports that he could be fired by Monday morning. <\/p>\n
Asked how much he wants to continue on with the Browns and if his job can be saved, he said, \u201cRespectfully, this game is not about me. I told you guys that. I\u2019m proud of that group for fighting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stefanski\u2019s hoodie was still wet from all the water being sprayed around the locker room when he awarded Myles Garrett a game ball for setting the NFL single season sack record with 23.0, breaking the mark of 22.5 set by Michael Strahan in 2001 and tied by T.J. Watt in 2021.<\/p>\n
A sack party broke out in the locker room after kicker Andre Szmyt nailed the 49-yard field goal as time expired to ensure that Garrett\u2019s record was set in a victory, and Stefanski was right in the thick of it. Unfortunately for him, the fantastic finish might not be enough to change the Browns\u2019 minds about letting him go after a 5-12 record in his sixth season. <\/p>\n
It gave him a 45-56 mark in the regular season, and 1-2 in the playoffs. Plagued by quarterback problems throughout his tenure, he also led the Browns to a 8-26 mark over the past two seasons. <\/p>\n
Fighting hard until the bitter end, the Browns beat the Steelers and Bengals in their final two games with Sanders at the helm. But owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam hoped for more coming off the disappointing 3-14 campaign of last season. <\/p>\n
The plan was for Stefanski to meet with ownership possibly on Monday morning for one final conversation about his fate. It seemed an enormous long shot for him to remain, but not impossible. <\/p>\n
A second attempt to get him to address his job status after the game proved fruitless.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith all respect to your previous answer, do you expect to be the head coach next year?\u201d he was asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd with all respect to that attempt by you, I\u2019m not making the focus about me,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Stefanski was asked about the fight in his team, which lost at least two games because of special teams woes, and wasn\u2019t that far from contending in the win-challenged AFC North. <\/p>\n
\u201cListen, there comes a time where you reflect,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m not there yet. I\u2019m just focused on this one. I knew all week these guys wanted to get this one. We wanted to even the series with Cincinnati. We dropped that first one of the season and weren\u2019t happy about that. We and had an opportunity to go out here today and get a win. I\u2019m really proud of the guys that stepped up in that game.\u201d<\/p>\n
He cited Sam Webb and D\u2019Angelo Ross stepping in at cornerback after starters Denzel Ward (neck) and Tyson Campell (shoulder) left the game in the first quarter with injuries. The Browns were also without linebacker Carson Schwesinger and tight ends Harold Fannin Jr. and David Njoku. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s a great thing to acknowledge with this football team,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s kind of been the story of the season \u2014 step up. We need you.\u201d<\/p>\n
The victory came two days after Garrett declined to give Stefanski a vote of confidence, saying he\u2019s had \u201cmore downs than ups with him\u201d and that he didn\u2019t know if the Browns could be successful with him as head coach. In the same interview, Garrett praised defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, a possible candidate to replace Stefanski.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, he answered in more general terms when asked about the widespread Stefanski reports. <\/p>\n
\u201cGot to be the same person every single day,\u201d Garrett said. \u201cCome with that same intensity. No matter the result, the outcome, you do this for the journey. There\u2019s suffering in the journey, there\u2019s failures in the journey, but that\u2019s the price we pay for giving everything that we have. No one\u2019s going to win the Super Bowl every year. No one\u2019s going to go to the playoffs every year \u2026. that\u2019s the kind of momentum we need to carry into the next season. We need to appreciate and be grateful for the guys that we have around us and look forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris, who got a hand on the pass that Devin Bush corraled for a 97-yard pick-six, gave Stefanski an enthusiastic vote of confidence. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe hear it, we see it,\u201d Harris said. \u201cYou\u2019d be a liar to say you don\u2019t. But I love Kevin Stefanski, I love that man. I\u2019ll fight for that man any day of the week. One of my all-time favorite coaches, if not my favorite coach of all time. There\u2019s no other coach I\u2019d rather play for. I love Kevin. And it\u2019s easy to just put the blame on Kev. But man, I\u2019ll tell you this: love Kevin. I love everything he stands for. I love him as a coach and great guy, great coach, one of my favorite.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harris cited Stefanski\u2019s down-to-earth nature.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe can talk to anyone,\u201d So it\u2019s hard to get coaches that are human. You know, you get lost in this football stuff, but Kev\u2019s a human. I feel like every decision he makes has human element to it and that does so much in this league for your players and also for your coaches. He\u2019s loved by his coaches and players. I think it says a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Left guard Joel Bitonio, who will again contemplate retiring this offseason, re-iterated his admiration of Stefanski.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s the same guy,\u201d Bitonio said. \u201cMaybe he\u2019s gotten a little grayer since he got here, but he\u2019s the same guy. He doesn\u2019t ride the emotional wave. You couldn\u2019t tell me if we were 12-5 or 5-12. That\u2019s just who he is, and I think the team appreciates that.\u201d<\/p>\n
He noted that the two division wins to close out the season were impressive. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s going to work, he\u2019s going to fight for this team, and that\u2019s what makes him who he is,\u201d Stefanski said. <\/p>\n
Stefanski was also asked what he\u2019s learned about Schwartz, who could be interviewed by the Browns. The two coaches bear-hugged on the field after the game. <\/p>\n
\u201cOur offices are right next to each other, so we spend a lot of time together,\u201d Stefanski said. \u201cWe see the game very similarly. We see a lot of things about this game very similarly. He reminds me of one of my former coaches when I was playing, just the way he goes about his business. Jim and the entire defensive staff did a great job.\u201d<\/p>\n
It remains to be seen if they\u2019ll work together again next season.<\/p>\n