It looks like Cleveland Browns have wrapped up their head coaching search. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Browns will hire Minnesota Vikings’ offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski for the job.
Browns were the last remaining NFL team without a head coach and have interviewed a number of candidates in recent weeks, including New England Patriots’ OC Josh McDaniels and San Francisco 49ers’ defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. Stefanski emerged as an early favorite, and despite tough competition, ended up getting the job.
Stefanski was one of the candidates for Browns’ head coaching job last year, but the team decided for in-house hire, choosing interim OC Freddie Kitchens instead. Kitchens, however, struggled in his first season at the helm and finished the year with a 6-10 record. Cleveland fired him shortly after the end of the regular season.
Kevin Stefanski spent almost his entire career with the Vikings, serving at various positions, including tight ends coach and quarterbacks coach. He took over the as Minnesota’s interim offensive coordinator job in 2018 before getting the job on a permanent basis in 2019.
Vikings were great under Stefanski this season, being eighth in the league in total points and sixth in rushing. The team, however, struggled in Divisional Round game against 49ers, when they had just 147 total yards of offense and scored 10 points.
