CLEVELAND, Ohio — As the Cleveland Browns limp into their bye week at 2-6, head coach Kevin Stefanski is facing the kind of crisis that can define — or end — a coaching tenure. The offense has become unwatchable, and despite Stefanski’s promises to “evaluate everything,” he’s stubbornly clinging to one job that might be better served in someone else’s hands: play-calling.
On Monday’s Orange and Brown Talk podcast, Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot didn’t mince words about what she believes needs to change during this bye week.
“I would turn the play calling over to Tommy Rees, bring him down out of that booth and just see if there’s anything he can’t do to jumpstart this offense,” Cabot said, offering the kind of direct solution that seems obvious to everyone except perhaps Stefanski himself.
The recommendation comes after yet another offensive implosion in Sunday’s 32-13 loss to New England. With rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel struggling and the offense showing no signs of improvement, the bye week represents the last clear chance to salvage something from this season.
Cabot revealed she directly asked Stefanski about potentially giving up play-calling duties during Monday’s press conference. “I asked Kevin Stefanski about that on the Zoom today. Will giving up play-calling be something that is on the table? And he did say they’re looking at everything except for of course the quarterback situation.”
That exception — refusing to even consider a quarterback change — has become a point of frustration for fans and media alike. Host Dan Labbe emphasized that this should be “Hell Week” for the offensive coaching staff, with every option on the table.
“I just don’t think there should be anything left off the table this week to try and fix this offense. And again, that’s just the most obvious, like, hey, let’s try this. Let’s just see if Tommy can jump start this thing a little bit,” Labbe said.
The suggestion to hand play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Tommy Rees isn’t about placing blame on Stefanski. Rather, it’s about finding a new perspective that might unlock something in this stagnant offense. Sometimes a fresh set of eyes can see solutions that have become blind spots for others.
What makes the situation even more frustrating is Stefanski’s unwillingness to provide substantive answers about potential changes. Cabot expressed disappointment in his vague responses, particularly regarding quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
“I thought fans, not me, I didn’t deserve a better answer. But it was a fair and valid question and I think fans deserved a better answer for why wouldn’t you try Shedeur?” she said.
This communication breakdown comes at a particularly poor time, with Browns GM Andrew Berry breaking tradition by not speaking to media during the bye week. This leaves Stefanski as the sole voice explaining the team’s approach, and so far, that voice has been frustratingly noncommittal.
As the Browns enter this crucial bye week, the call for change grows louder. Whether Stefanski will actually surrender play-calling duties remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: something dramatic needs to change before this team takes the field again. The future of this coaching staff might depend on it.
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