Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam 'as Frustrated as You Are' by Losses, Talks Stefanski Firing

Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam expressed empathy with fans of his team when discussing his decision to fire former head coach Kevin Stefanski.

Stefanski's firing was announced Monday after six seasons and a 45-56 record with the Browns. General manager Andrew Berry, who has been with the team for the same stretch, was retained.

Cleveland most recently went 8-26 over its last two seasons as the unavailability of Deshaun Watson forced the team to turn to seven different starting quarterbacks over the stretch.

"First of all, ownership takes full responsibility where we are," Haslam said when addressing fans during a Monday press conference. "To win eight games in two years is horrible. It's totally unacceptable, okay? And it's not going to continue, okay?

"I want the fans to know, we are as frustrated as you are. And we hear a lot from our fans, which we actually appreciate. We have great fans. They're extremely passionate. And they deserve better than what they've gotten the last two years."

The Browns made their first playoff run since 2002 during Stefanski's first season as head coach back in 2020. Joe Flacco helped get the Browns back into the playoffs in 2023.

Haslam told fans Monday that fell short of his goal to make his team a "consistent winner."

"We are going to give you a better product. Our sole goal here is to be a consistent winner, not make the playoffs in '20 and then make it again in '23, not win eight games in two years," Haslam said. "That's not what we're trying to do. That's not acceptable. Our fans deserve better."

When addressing why that had led the Browns to fire Stefanski but not Berry, Haslam said, "I think Andrew, over the last year, has done a very good job."

Haslam specifically praised Berry for his free agency signings of players like defensive tackle Maliek Collins and his work in the 2025 draft, during which the team brought in potential Defensive Rookie of the Year winner Carson Schwesinger and eventual starting quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

Berry was also responsible for signing Watson in 2022 to the fully-guaranteed five year, $230 million deal that has since limited the team's ability to address issues at the quarterback position.

Haslam said, however, the Browns were focused on the players Berry brought to the organization ahead of the 2025 campaign.

"This year, we not only added... really good players, but also really good people," Haslam said. "And I think that core that Andrew has put together this year will help move us forward. We hope to have similar results this coming year."

CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones recently reported the Browns are preparing to start Sanders next season. How the franchise handles the upcoming head coaching search, and what Berry does with the two first-round picks he holds in the 2026 draft, will ultimately play a role in how strong of a team can be built around the second-year quarterback next season.