Last Monday, January 5, marked the arrival of the much-hated day for coaches and much-loved by some fans: Black Monday in the NFL. It is the day after the season ends, when many head coaches lose their jobs due to poor yearly results or disappointing performances accumulated over several seasons.
It was precisely at that moment that the Cleveland Browns fired Kevin Stefanski. After six years leading the franchise, poor results became routine over the last two seasons, and patience finally ran out.
It became almost impossible to keep him when the team delivered one weak performance after another during the 2025 season, even though there were a couple of wins that briefly gave fans hope, including victories over the powerful Green Bay Packers and their hated division rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
With Stefanski’s departure, the head coaching position in Cleveland became vacant. But honestly, is there anyone who would naturally want to take responsibility for this team? It seems complicated, and former quarterback Robert Griffin III made that very clear.
Robert Griffin III’s harsh criticism of the Cleveland Browns’ leadership
The disastrous 2025 season was not the only reason Kevin Stefanski was fired. It was also the accumulation of several poor years. Multiple decisions have weighed heavily on the franchise, chief among them the exorbitant guaranteed contract given to Deshaun Watson, which has become a true burden.
The Cleveland Browns have the worst head coaching vacancy in the NFL by far, maybe even in NFL history for three reasons.
Griffin said on Thursday.
Griffin III made those remarks in a video posted on his X account about the head coaching vacancy in Cleveland, adding:
The quarterback situation is absolutely atrocious. Deshaun Watson is coming off yet another injury. You owe him $46 million. So what are you going to do with him? Dillon Gabriel was your higher draft pick this past season. You got him sitting on the bench behind Shedeur Sanders, who most of the team wants to be the starter.
That massive contract for a player constantly injured represents dead money for the organization, limiting its ability to build a competitive roster capable of providing medium and long-term stability.
For Griffin III, the front office is also a burden
For the now sports analyst, the franchise’s problems are not limited to what happens on the field. He believes the front office also carries significant unresolved issues.
Management played a major role in bringing Deshaun Watson to the team alongside the now former coach, choosing that path while moving on from Baker Mayfield.
Number two, it’s historically one of the most dysfunctional franchises in the league.”…”Kevin Stefanski wanted Deshaun Watson as his quarterback, wanted him so bad he was willing to get rid of Baker Mayfield, who’s now the franchise quarterback with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
And, number three you now have to answer to a GM in Andrew Berry who’s put himself on the hot seat. The Cleveland Browns have only won eight games in the last two years.
So far, the Browns have interviewed Aden Durde from Seattle and Dan Pitcher from Cincinnati on Friday, January 9. They also spoke with Jim Schwartz and Tommy Rees on Thursday, January 8, as the franchise searches for the right leader ahead of the 2026 season.
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