The Cleveland Browns have signed head coach Kevin Stefanski and basic supervisor Andrew Berry to contract extensions, the crew introduced Wednesday, retaining the decision-making duo that has guided the franchise because the 2020 season.
The lengths of the brand new offers weren’t introduced.
In Stefanski and Berry, the Browns have discovered the coach-GM pairing the franchise has longed for since returning to the NFL in 1999. Since 2020, the Browns have the best profitable proportion (.552) for the crew over a four-year stretch since 1986 to ’89.
In the course of the NFL’s league conferences in Orlando, Florida, in March, Browns house owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam stated they had been near signing Stefanski and Berry to extensions.
“We’re extremely lucky to have Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry main the Cleveland Browns,” the Haslems stated in a press release. “For the reason that day they had been employed, every has labored tirelessly to assist the Cleveland Browns win. We’re pleased with what they and the crew have achieved, however Kevin and Andrew could be the primary to say that Browns followers deserve much more. Their management, collaborative strategy, and talent to beat obstacles bode nicely for the way forward for this franchise.
“Final season was a first-rate instance. Regardless of going through a number of participant accidents and utilizing 5 totally different beginning quarterbacks, Andrew and his employees constructed a roster that tailored nicely, whereas Kevin and his employees led the crew to its second playoff look in 4 years, incomes Coach of the Yr honors for the second time in that interval. They’re two of the brightest folks we all know, and selfless individuals who solely care about what’s greatest for the Cleveland Browns. We’re thrilled that Kevin and Andrew will stay with the crew for the long run.”
Since 2020, the Browns have a 37-30 report within the common season and have reached the playoffs twice, in 2020 after which in 2023. This previous season, Stefanski guided Cleveland to the postseason regardless of myriad accidents to a number of key gamers, together with season-ending accidents to quarterback Deshaun Watson and working again Nick Chubb.
Stefanski acquired AP Coach of the Yr honors in 2020 and 2023.
Berry has executed a number of shrewd strikes to amass expertise, together with getting large receiver Amari Cooper for a 2021 fifth-round choose and choose swap. However the tenure for him and Stefanski will in the end be judged by the play of Watson after the crew packaged three first-round picks to commerce for him earlier than the 2022 season. The franchise subsequently gave Watson a five-year contract extension price an NFL-record $230 million absolutely assured.
Watson has solely performed in 12 video games with the Browns due to final yr’s shoulder surgical procedure and his 2022 suspension for violating the NFL’s private conduct coverage after greater than two dozen girls accused him of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct throughout therapeutic massage classes.
Watson, a three-time Professional Bowl choice throughout his first 4 seasons with the Houston Texans, has posted a 41.9 QBR since making his debut with the Browns, the sixth-worst mark in that timeframe.
Watson has been throwing each different day and has been restricted in OTAs as he adheres to a rehab plan. Berry stated he expects Watson to be prepared for the season opener.
