The Clarks fled to Cleveland after the Great Johnstown Flood of 1889. And much to my childhood dismay, the Clarks have stayed in Cleveland ever since.
My family watched as the Terminal Tower, the second-tallest skyscraper on the planet at the time, was erected. My family was there when Eliot Ness failed to catch the Kingsbury Run Butcher. My family was there when Superman was just a Glenville High School student’s idea and when James Gunn transformed downtown into Metropolis two summers ago.
Most importantly, my family witnessed the rise and fall of the Cleveland Browns firsthand.
The Browns have been somewhat of a joke for my entire football-watching existence.
Last season, the Browns went 5-12 for a last-place finish in the AFC North. Although defensive end Myles Garrett took down the 24-year NFL sack record, instability at the offensive line translated to an inability to score significantly against most opponents. Starting quarterback Shedeur Sanders notably began the season at fourth string, only being allowed to practice with the starting offensive lineup days before his debut start against the Las Vegas Raiders in week 12.
Sanders and Garrett finished the season as franchise darlings, but the coach who got them there — 2004 College graduate and former Penn football defensive back Kevin Stefanski — was “relieved from his duties” one day after the Browns’ season-ending victory against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Stefanski joined the program in 2020, earning NFL Coach of the Year honors in his first season after leading the Browns to their first playoff berth since 2002. The Philadelphia native oversaw the Browns as they achieved their first playoff victory since 1994. Stefanski earned Coach of the Year again in 2023 after leading the Browns to the playoffs once more amidst a season of turnover, controversy, and player injuries.
Although Stefanski’s final two seasons with the Browns produced less-than-desirable results, the proof is in the pudding.
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The Browns have lacked fundamental stability since the team was reintroduced as an expansion team after a three-year hiatus during the 1990s. The Browns are the only team in the NFL to not win a divisional title since the structure was introduced in 2002. In January 2018, local fans rallied behind the “victorious” 0-16 Browns, hosting an unauthorized but heavily publicized “Losers’ Parade” procession in front of the stadium.
Forty two unique starting quarterbacks have represented the Orange and Brown over the course of 26 seasons. Ten quarterbacks have debuted since Baker Mayfield left the program in 2022, after the team traded him and signed now-disgraced quarterback Deshaun Watson.
For comparison, the Pittsburgh Steelers have debuted 18 unique starting quarterbacks since the 1999 season.
The Browns are also burdened by the Watson ball and chain. Watson was acquired for three first-round draft picks and inked a five-year, $230 million contract to join the organization. During his first season with the Browns, Watson was suspended for 11 games due to 24 sexual assault allegations. He remains one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in NFL history. During the 2026 season alone, the former Texan will rake in $46 million as a third-string quarterback — money that could be spent on competitive contracts in the offensive line and backfield.
The team notably took a nosedive after Watson put on the Orange and Brown. Before Watson's first start, Stefanski went 19-14 during the regular season and 1-1 in the postseason. Although Stefanski exits his tenure with the Browns with a 45-58 record, that doesn’t reflect the challenges he faced due to rapid player turnover and confusing draft priorities from the general manager’s office.
Last season, the Browns allowed 143 pressures while simultaneously recording the lowest cumulative pass-blocking grade in the NFL. The team consistently prioritizes mid-round or undrafted talent on the offensive line, not drafting a first-round offensive lineman since 2020.
The wide receiver issue isn’t much better. Starting wide receiver Jerry Jeudy ranks second in the NFL for drops while boasting a 47.2% completion rate. Although he was a first-round draft pick in 2020, the Browns acquired Jeudy after he consistently underperformed for the Denver Broncos.
The Browns’ biggest successes come from their defensive line. The Dawg Pound defense consistently ranks among the top five in the nation, averaging 283.6 defensive yards per game during the 2025 season. Cornerback Tyson Campbell similarly stunned with 18 passes defended during the regular season, good for third in the league.
General Manager Andrew Berry consistently invests in the Browns’ defense, often utilizing our first- and second-round picks to strengthen the line. He needs to invest that same energy into our crumbling offense if he wants the Browns to succeed as a franchise under a new head coach.
Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz seems to be the most logical conclusion for the position. The franchise’s demise during the past two seasons could be turned around with some sense of continuity. But time and again, the Browns have shown they do not care for proven results and stability. Browns’ owner Jimmy Haslam wants bloody spectacle, whether or not that means sacrificing the team. Whoever takes the mantle will be the sixth head coach in 13 years.
Stefanski will almost certainly see success during his tenure with the Atlanta Falcons while the Browns will be back at the bottom of the heap, growing tired of the fans who complain “Stefanski should’ve stayed.”
ELLIE CLARK is a College junior from Cleveland, OH studying music and history of art. She currently serves as deputy sports editor. All comments should be directed to dpsports@thedp.com.
