I've Cast My Vote For Coach of the Year, Barring Colossal Collapse

Everyone has a list. A list of people you don’t like for an obscure and certainly not valid reason. People that after a period of time you forget why you don’t like them and continue to not like them cause you think you’re supposed to not like them.

One of the founding members of my list is Kevin Stefanski.

This guy for years drove me nuts watching the Browns. Erratic play-calling I believe was the genesis of the hate. Consistently underperforming with a roster very capable of overperforming was the beginning and end of the annual review process. I’ve wanted the Browns to be good for a while now, and they always seem to fall short. And that falls on the man in charge.

But while my elongated negativity towards Stefanski remained coming into this season, a season in which I predicted the Brownies to win a mere 6 games, K-Dawg is finally making me eat my words.

Kevin Stefanski should be the front-runner for NFL Coach of the Year. While I don’t believe he is per sportsbook odds, here’s my case that my favorite coach and soon to be best friend should be.

The Browns have started as many QBs this season as the Chargers have since 2006 (4). Deshaun never returned to the Deshaun many (not me) thought he would when he was healthy to start the year. He then got hurt, and they turned to USFL-standout PJ Walker, still winning two games including one against the best team in the league. PJ ran out of Polyjuice potion after a brief Watson return, and when Deshaun was re-injured and deemed out for the year, he was such an afterthought for the Browns to start I thought they cut him. DTR played and was horrible, but I think won a game? Cleveland’s season, although promising in the win/loss column, seemed like it was about to fall off Victoria Falls. 

Then comes Joe Cool. Mr. Spiral. Off the couch to an old division foe, Flacco was signed by the Browns on Wednesday and on the field starting on Sunday. And has yet to lose a game. He looks spry, accurate, and quick with his reads. And he has the Browns at 9-5 and squarely in the playoff hunt.

Did I mention they lost their best player and offensive focal point in Nick Chubb week 2?

Think about that ride. Think about how easy it would’ve been to have your locker room spiral out of control like the Steelers does every week. Or have your defense lose a touch of mental fortitude knowing they need be perfect to even potentially win like the Jets.

As off the rails as this could’ve gotten, Stefanski kept the train rolling, and this team with Joe Cool as a scary energy to them. Their defense has been a top unit all year led by my choice for DPOY Miles Garrett. They still run the ball effectively, and Joey Spirals has the offense humming, leaning on Njoku who is doing his best Undertaker impression since Joe took over.

I said earlier this season that with a slightly improved Deshaun Watson the Browns would be a Super Bowl contender. Flacco is playing better than any QB the Browns have had this year, and with him slinging it around feeling like a 10 year old kid with absolutely nothing to lose, I’m placing them back in that category.

And I’m crediting Kevin Stefanski. 

Even with the talent on this roster, I reckon there’s a small number of coaches who could’ve salvaged the few ups and many downs this team has faced this year the way Steffy has. The Browns are fun. Flacco is fun. Watching them play defense and run the ball, the identity of this team, is fun.

Who’d a thought? Certainly not me. 

Not that I have one, but Kevin Stefanski has my vote. And for now, is off my naughty list.