As the first week of the 2024 NFL season kicks off, on average there are about 6 new NFL head coaches at the start of the season. From 1999-2019 the Cleveland Browns had 11 head coaches and 10 general managers. That is an average tenure of less than 2 years for a coach and just 2 years as a general manager. The Cleveland Browns lacked stability and continuity in the first two decades of the expansion era. That all changed in 2020 when Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski were hired as the Cleveland Browns general manager and head coach.

In 2012 Jimmy Haslam purchased the majority share of the Cleveland Browns. He was the minority owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and had to sell his share of the team to finalize his purchase of the Browns. For 8 years Haslam went through 4 general managers and 5 head coaches. He used a successful business philosophy of hiring slowly and firing quickly. Once Haslam realized that he made a mistake with who he hired, he wouldn’t hesitate to make a change. He kept doing that until he got it right in 2020.

Under the advisement of the Cleveland Browns Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta, in 2020 Jimmy Haslam hired Andrew Berry as general manager and Kevin Stefanski as head coach. Since they were hired the Cleveland Browns have posted a record of 38-32. This includes two playoff seasons and a playoff win in Pittsburgh. Both Berry and Stefanski have delivered winning football to Northeast Ohio. With 2024 being the final year of their contracts, owner Jimmy Haslam gave contract extensions to both Berry and Stefanski last offseason. This was not a surprise to Browns fans.

After having a half decade of stability and continuity with the Cleveland Browns, Browns fans can expect a consistently competitive team. The work, time, and patience of Cleveland Browns fans can start to payoff this season. And the payoff can be a deep playoff run or even a Super Bowl. Courtesy of Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski.