The Cleveland Browns are stuck in quarterback hell. After five starts, Dillon Gabriel hasn’t moved the needle, while fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders collects dust on the bench.
ESPN Host Links Stefanski's Job Security to Shedeur Sanders Benching
ESPN Host Links Stefanski’s Job Security to Shedeur Sanders Benching (Image Via Instagram/@adamschefter)
In the process, the Week 10 loss to the Jets just added to the heat on head coach Kevin Stefanski. Now ESPN voices are connecting the dots – if Browns’ front office fires Stefanski, Sanders finally gets his shot.
ESPN Host Links Stefanski’s Job Security to Shedeur Sanders Benching
Dillon Gabriel made his fifth start against the Jets on November 9, 2025. Cleveland dropped the game 27-20.
He went 17-of-32 for 167 yards and two touchdowns. His 53% completion rate and missed throws tell the rest, which many in the Browns community don’t love to hear.
But the numbers tell half the story. Through five starts, he’s sitting on 850 passing yards, six touchdowns, and two picks. His 4.9 yards per attempt rank dead last among all starting quarterbacks this season.
The Jets just traded cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to the Colts. So, on paper, the Jets had a stripped-down defense, but Gabriel’s show was again blank. It seems like everyone wants Coach Prime’s son to step in, but the HC is not making the necessary move.
ESPN Cleveland’s Aaron Goldhammer made his blunt assessment, connecting Stefanski’s job to the Sanders situation directly.
“I guess that coach Stefanski would rather get fired than play Shedeur Sanders,” Goldhammersaid.
“I guess that coach Stefanski would rather get fired than play Shedeur Sanders.”
We don’t usually agree with Aaron Goldhammer on many things, but this explanation for why the Browns refuse to play Shedeur Sanders makes total sense. pic.twitter.com/Z6cScM5RmH
— The Dawgs – A Cleveland Browns Podcast (@thedawgspodcast) November 10, 2025
Sports analyst Bomani Jones didn’t mince his words while torching Stefanski’s decision-making during “The Right Time with Bomani Jones” podcast..
This whole situation is a lose-lose for Kevin Stefanski 😳
“If you press the Shedeur button, you better hope he balls. But if he does, that’s not a good look either … So basically why don’t they go ahead and fire that man right now.” pic.twitter.com/4JLn5wm5Kr
— The Right Time with Bomani Jones (@righttimebomani) November 10, 2025
“If you press the Shedeur button, you better hope he balls. But if he does, that’s not a good look either. So basically why don’t they go ahead and fire that man right now?” Jonessaid.
Stefanski knows that replacing Gabriel with Sanders would be an admission that his quarterback evaluation was off from the start. But keeping Gabriel in while losses mount could cost him his job anyway.
Coach Stefanski Digs In Despite Mounting Pressure
Sanders has been a part of the drama since his NFL draft, which saw the shocking slide from projected first-rounder to fifth-round steal. Then, he looked promising in the preseason but hasn’t taken a regular-season snap.
Reports suggest Sanders could see action during the final four games. Stefanski won’t commit to any timeline.
When pressed on Monday, Stefanski doubled down on Gabriel.
Hesaid, “We’re committed to getting better as an offense. Dillon is certainly committed to improving in every way he can. And all the while, our young players are developing and working hard behind the scenes to make sure they’re improving on a daily basis.”
The Browns host Baltimore next as heavy underdogs. If Gabriel lays another egg, the home crowd will let Stefanski hear it. The clock is ticking on both their tenures in Cleveland.