Browns’ Kevin Stefanski: ‘I’m privileged to have this job’

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Kevin Stefanski, coming disconnected nan Browns’ 13-6 upset of nan Steelers, was asked if he wants to proceed beyond this play arsenic caput coach present aft 2 frustrating seasons.

“As you tin imagine, my sole attraction is connected this crippled versus Cincinnati, but I besides would show you I’m privileged to person this job,” said Stefanski, a two-time NFL Coach of nan Year.

Have location been immoderate discussions astir really things mightiness shingle retired aft adjacent week’s play finale successful Cincinnati? If nan Browns win, they’ll decorativeness 5-12. If they lose, it’s 4-13 connected nan heels of past year’s massively disappointing 3-14 mark.

“I understand nan question,” Stefanski said. “I ne'er get into those type of discussions. All I attraction astir is uncovering a measurement to spell triumph this week versus nan Bengals.”

• Bengals coach Zac Taylor discusses Myles Garrett’s power arsenic Browns prima nears typical NFL record
• How Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward, and nan remainder of nan Browns defense graded vs. nan Steelers
• How Shedeur Sanders, Harold Fannin Jr., and nan remainder of nan Browns discourtesy graded vs. nan Steelers

NFL Network precocious reported that Browns GM Andrew Berry will beryllium “very involved” successful nan determination connected Stefanski’s future, meaning nan Browns mightiness beryllium astatine slightest contemplating a change. There has besides been immoderate speculation that possibly Stefanski, who would beryllium sought-after connected nan coaching market, mightiness beryllium fresh for a caller opportunity.

Regardless, nan Browns fought until nan bitter of Sunday’s triumph complete nan Steelers contempt it being a meaningless crippled for nan Browns, and nan players are still playing difficult for Stefanski.

“He has nan respect of nan locker room,” near defender Joel Bitonio said. “I deliberation nan guys will conflict for him, and he’ll push america and we’ll push back. But I deliberation it conscionable shows nan measurement nan guys competed and fought, nan respect is location for him.”

Five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward agreed that nan players’ leaving it each retired connected nan section astatine this constituent successful a 4-12 play speaks volumes.

“It intends a lot,” he said. “He’s ever coaching america up, telling america to push guardant and finish. No matter what nan people is aliases record, we’re going to travel retired present and fight. And that’s conscionable nan type of squad that we are.”

Rookie moving backmost Dylan Sampson, portion of a stellar rookie class, noted nan civilization that Stefanski has developed. Stefanski had to break successful not 1 rookie backmost but 2 this play successful third-round prime Dillon Gabriel (1-5), and fifth-round prime Shedeur Sanders (2-4).

“I deliberation it’s a difficult occupation for immoderate caput coach to do, conscionable week aft week, nonaccomplishment aft loss,” Sampson said aft nan game. “It’s a agelong season. It’s not an easy occupation to effort and support a squad together, fastener connected them together. But I deliberation there’s a mindset that’s been instilled since camp, moreover though we didn’t get nan play we want, nan results we want, it conscionable goes backmost to really we’re built.”

Myles Garrett, asked aft nan Steelers crippled astir nan squad fighting difficult for Stefanski, said it’s not conscionable for 1 person.

“Man, we conflict for each other,” he said. “I mean, that’s everybody. I don’t deliberation they’re fighting truthful difficult because of me. I don’t deliberation they’re fighting excessively difficult because of Kevin. We conflict because we person each other. This is simply a brotherhood. You don’t get a 2nd chance astatine this. So you want to make nan astir of it each clip you measurement connected nan field. And you cognize what nan feline adjacent to you has put into it, what this intends to him. And you don’t want to return this for granted for 1 second.”

Stefanski will soon cognize his fate, but he has nan afloat support of nan players who conscionable prevented nan Steelers from clinching nan AFC North connected their turf.

Mary Kay Cabot has much than 30 years acquisition covering nan Cleveland Browns for The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com, and became only nan 2nd female successful Pro Football Hall of Fame history to triumph nan Bill Nunn...