Sportsnaut
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, a two-time NFL Coach of the Year, was afforded another season after posting a 3-14 record. With the offense looking even worse in another season with double-digit losses, it’s time for a Browns coaching search.
Cleveland would be entering the NFL coaching carousel at an interesting time. The New York Giants will have the most coveted job available, but firing Stefanski could make this the second-most desirable job available. However, the pool of head-coaching candidates this year isn’t particularly strong. That’s worth keeping in mind when looking at our Browns coaching candidates to replace Stefanski.
Ordinarily, a franchise without a surefire quarterback to build around and a lot of missing parts on offense wouldn’t be particularly attractive to the top coaching candidate in the cycle. This feels like a unique circumstance, however, because Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter might see a golden opportunity to succeed with the Browns’ defense.
Related: NFL Defense Rankings 2025
Minter inherited a Chargers defense in 2024 that ranked 26th in yards-per-play average (5.5), 18th in scoring rate (36 percent), and 26th in yards per drive allowed (32.6), while ranking 24th in EPA per play (0.019) the season prior. Los Angeles now ranks sixth in Defensive EPA per play (-0.053) since hiring Minter, and is eighth in yards-per-play allowed (5.0) and sixth in yards per drive (27.5) this season.
Accomplishing all of that with only one above-average edge rusher (Khalil Mack) and one Pro Bowl defensive back (Derwin James Jr.) speaks volumes about Minter’s defensive mind and his ability to maximize the players he has. He might not solve the Browns’ offensive issues, but with the right offensive coordinator and the top quarterback prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft, that improvement is possible.
Any potential Browns coaching search this offseason faces an interesting question. Does Cleveland hire an offensive-minded head coach to try and repair this offense or does the organization go the opposite direction from the Stefanski hire? If the hire is going to be an offensive coordinator, Seattle Seahawks play-caller is probably the best option this offseason.
Related: NFL Coaching Hot Seat Rankings, including Kevin Stefanski
Entering Week 14, the Seahawks offense ranks fourth in yards per play (6.0) and scoring rate (46.2 percent), while ranking 12th in red zone touchdown rate (61 percent) and ninth in points per drive (2.37). Before Kubiak’s arrival, Seattle ranked 14th in yards per play, 22nd in scoring rate, 15th in red zone touchdown rate, and 21st in points per drive.
He’s spent time learning from the likes of Kyle Shanahan and Mike Macdonald, two of the best head coaches in the NFL right now. While there would be a bit of risk here for Cleveland given Kubiak’s limited experience as a play-caller, he’s an ascending coordinator with a good shot to become a head coach in 2026.
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