Kevin Stefanski named AP coach of the year

Once again, the AP’s coach of the year comes from the Browns.

Cleveland’s Kevin Stefanski has won the award for the second time in four seasons, as announced during the NFL Honors ceremony on Thursday night.

Stefanski, 41, led the Browns to an 11-6 record and a postseason appearance despite starting five quarterbacks during the regular season. Four of the team’s starters — Deshaun Watson, P.J. Walker, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and Joe Flacco — won at least one game.

After beginning the season healthy, Watson started just six games for the Browns, playing significant snaps in just five. But the team also lost its best offensive player in running back Nick Chubb during the team’s Week 2 loss to Pittsburgh.

Still, the Browns won four games in a row down the stretch with Joe Flacco at quarterback to clinch the AFC’s No. 5 seed in Week 17.

Stefanski also made one of the best hires of the offseason, bringing in Jim Schwartz to be the club’s defensive coordinator. The Browns finished No. 1 in yards allowed in 2023.

Houston’s DeMeco Ryans, Detroit’s Dan Campbell, Baltimore’s John Harbaugh, and San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan were the other finalists for coach of the year.

Stefanski previously won the award in 2020 after leading the Browns to their first postseason appearance since 2002.

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/kevin-stefanski-named-ap-coach-025503877.html

Author : ProFootball Talk on NBC Sports

Publish date : 2024-02-09 02:55:03

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