BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – It took longer than expected but the Browns have extended the contracts of executive vice president of football operations and general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski.
It marks the first time under the ownership of the Haslam Sports Group the top football executive and head coach received extensions together and the first time since 2008 when then GM Phil Savage and head coach Romeo Crennel were extended.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry leading the Cleveland Browns,” Cleveland Browns Managing and Principal Partners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said in a statement. “Since the day they were hired, each has worked tirelessly to help the Cleveland Browns win. We are proud of what they and the team have achieved, but Kevin and Andrew would be the first to say that Browns fans deserve even more. Their leadership, collaborative approach, and ability to overcome obstacles bode well for the future of this franchise.
“Last season was a prime example,” Dee and Jimmy Haslam continued. “Despite facing multiple player injuries and using five different starting quarterbacks, Andrew and his staff built a roster that adapted well, while Kevin and his staff led the team to its second playoff appearance in four years, earning Coach of the Year honors for the second time in that period. They are two of the brightest people we know, and selfless people who only care about what is best for the Cleveland Browns. We are thrilled that Kevin and Andrew will remain with the team for the future.”
Under the stewardship of Berry and Stefanski the Browns have made the playoffs twice in the last four years, the best such stretch for the franchise since the late 1980’s.
Since both were hired in 2020, the team has gone 37-30.
Stefanski, a two-time NFL coach of the year award winner, is the first head coach to win 11 games in multiple seasons for the Browns since Hall of Fame coach and franchise founder Paul Brown.
Since Berry took over the front office the Browns have had 22 total Pro Bowl selections, including five players – who have received multiple selections the last four years.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, a 2021 second round pick, was Berry’s first pick to make the Pro Bowl this past season.
Berry also traded for Pro Bowl receiver Amari Cooper while also extending the contracts of Pro Bowlers Nick Chubb, Wyatt Teller, Joel Bitonio, Myles Garrett, David Njoku and Denzel Ward in recent years.