January 12 has become a popular day for the Cleveland Browns to hire a new head coach. In 2019, Freddie Kitchens was hired. 2020, Kevin Stefanski, the guy who finished runner up to Kitchens a year ago, wins the job this time.
Browns are planning to hire Vikings’ OC Kevin Stefanski, as @RapSheet reported.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 12, 2020
Stefanski joins the Browns after spending his entire NFL coaching career with the Minnesota Vikings. He spent 19 games as the Vikings offensive coordinator. Stefanski has been a part of the Vikings organization since 2006.
Stefanski beat out Josh McDaniels, Robert Saleh, Brian Daboll, Greg Roman and Jim Schwartz for the job.
The hiring of Stefanski means the Browns will once again go with an analytical approach to building a winning football team in Cleveland. It didn’t work under Sashi Brown in 2016. Will it work under Paul Depodesta in 2020?
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Depodesta lobbied the Browns to hire Stefanski a year ago. Owner Jimmy Haslam decided to listen to now former general manager John Dorsey and hired Kitchens. This time Depodesta wins out and his guy gets the job.
With Stefanski in the mix, the focus now turns to hiring Dorsey’s replacement. The odds on favorite to be the next Browns general manager is Andrew Berry. If Berry is the guy, it marks a return to Cleveland after leaving the Browns for a front office role with the Philadelphia Eagles. Berry was a part of the Sashi Brown regime in Cleveland.
Scott Piker is the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Indians Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage.com. So follow him on twitter @ScottPikerSport
