DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski sign contract extensions with the Browns

Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski sign contract extensions with the Browns

Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski are here to stay.

The Browns announced that Berry and Stefanski have signed contract extensions.

"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. "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."

Berry and Stefanski were first hired by the Browns in 2020, and since then, the Browns have a record of 37-30 (.552) — the highest winning percentage for the team over a four-year stretch since 1986-89. As an organization, they have seen a level of success not seen in some time. In their first season at the helm in 2020, the pair helped the team to its first playoff appearance since 2002 and first playoff victory in 26 years.
The Browns also finished the 2023 season with an 11-6 record and another trip to the postseason. The 11 regular season wins tied for second-most in team history, trailing only the 1986 team, which had 12 wins. Following the 2023 season, Stefanski (2020 and 2023) joined Pro Football Hall of Famer Paul Brown (1951 and 1953) as the only coaches in team history to record multiple seasons with at least 11 regular season wins.
Cleveland dominated at home during the 2023 season, as the Browns finished with an 8-1 record at Cleveland Browns Stadium and set a team record for wins at home. Since 2020, the Browns are 24-10 (.706) at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

The Browns established a prominent run game over the last four years, as they are third in the NFL with an average of 139.6 rushing yards per game since 2020. Yet they've also developed a blend of the run and pass game as well. During the Browns 77-year history, the team has surpassed 6,000 scrimmage yards in a single season just seven times; under Stefanski, the Browns have reached that mark in all four seasons.

Cleveland had seven players selected to the Pro Bowl for the 2023 season, the club's most since sending eight in 1988. During his tenue, Berry has inked five of the players — G Joel Bitonio, DE Myles Garrett, TE David Njoku, G Wyatt Teller and CB Denzel Ward — to contract extensions, while WR Amari Cooper was acquired via trade in 2022 and LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was a second-round draft pick in 2021.

Berry also added the contract extensions of WR Jerry Jeudy – who the Browns acquired in a trade with the Broncos in March – and S Grant Delpit – who was drafted by the Browns in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Stefanski earned accolades of his own over his first four years as a head coach. He was named the Coach of the Year in 2020 and in 2023 and joined Forrest Gregg (1976) as the second coach in franchise history to earn the honor.
Under the first four years of Berry and Stefanski's leadership, the Browns have turned the page to a new chapter of history within the organization. Now, with the extensions in place, they are poised to lead the Browns through the next chapter of the organization's storied history.

"Kevin, the way that he was able to lead and manage through challenges in adversity this year was absolutely phenomenal," Berry said in his end-of-season press conference on Jan. 22. "And we have a smart, adaptable, emotionally intelligent leader who the crazy part is, he's not even close to his ceiling. And I know that our organization is in really good hands both now and for the foreseeable future with him."

https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/new...sign-contract-extensions-with-the-browns

...does it say how long somewhere?

No.

I bet those details are soon to come.

I felt relatively sure this was going to happen but seeing it as a done deal puts any possible question marks to rest. Nothing makes 100% sure the deal is done until the deal is signed on the dotted line. Happy that this is done and there is one more thing behind us now.

Great news now that it is official.

Also, likely safe to assume that DePo was or will be extended as well since he, Berry and Stefanski's contracts were all set to end at the same time.

Or DePo rides off into the sunset "my work here is done" style?

This must be a tough day for you seeing this news. Only to be worse if they announced a DePo extension as well.

Hang in there.

I'm pretty sure they are trying to wrap up Paul Depodesta's contract to keep all 3 of them on the same cycle.


That's what we did back in 2021 when we got them on the same cycle.

Congrats Berry/Stef! So happy to see it

LOL - The Rish will be upset with this news as well. KS just doesn't prioritize winning...

great to see this. continuity should bode us browns fans well. next is great QB play.

Right!!! Big mistake!! Both should be gone!!!!

I'm sure.

DePo is just taking longer because he's still crunching the numbers and has yet to inform Haslam of what his contract should be.

Probably. His contract came later last time.

That said, maybe not if he was to ride off as someone else mentioned.

He basically steered the team in to the coach and probably advised to hire Berry. He has set guardrails that have helped lead to a solid roster. He has set up a solid analytics department that runs deep in the office.

Maybe he feels his work is done?

On March 18, 2022, DePodesta helped to facilitate a controversial trade for Deshaun Watson. Watson and the Texans' 2024 sixth-round draft pick were traded to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for the Browns' first-round draft picks in 2022, 2023, and 2024, as well as the Browns' third-round pick in 2023 and fourth-round picks in 2022 and 2024. As part of the trade, Watson signed a new, fully guaranteed, five-year, $230 million deal with the Browns, making it the largest contract and most guaranteed money in NFL history.

link

Not sure why you're posting this here, mac?

I stand by the following two statements…

1. I don’t think Stefanski is as good a play caller as people think. I think he’s a very good play designer. Play calling is something different.

2. I’m happy with the extensions for both Stefanski and Berry. Continuity feels good. The Browns are not a laughing stock. I think we have a good organization in place.

Now let’s win a division! Is Stefanski the first ever four year coach to get an extension without ever winning a division title? “In appreciation of always finishing third or worst in your division, we’d like you to stick around for four more years.”

Even if that deal does not work out at least he tried to win. How many Cleveland teams over the years don't make the big move to try to win big. This FO did. Baker was never going to win anything. They knew that. What we do know if that doesn't work out Watson will not be here in a couple years and this FO will swing for the fences when they can. I have no issue at all trying to win.

I'll just point out that getting players (often backups last year) to execute play calls isn't really play calling either. A coach doesn't call the outcome.

Did a play not work because of the call or did someone mess up (wrong assignment/read)/miss a throw/get beat (other team made a play)/fall down (things happen)? Did it look like a play was there to be made if something hadn't gone wrong? Other teams' players get paid, too, and DCs don't get hired for being awful play callers. I'm not sure some people "fully" realize how hard it is to win with backup QBs (and RBs and OL) and how thin the margins are.

I think he is more good than bad as a play caller. How good that is is certainly debatable.

I’ve hated plenty of coaching and GM hires but I like the Ski & Berry hires and I’m glad it’s worked out so far. Still need to see what comes of the DW trade but the team overall is one to watch since the day they arrived.

I know it’s an unpopular take in some quarters (Vers and I had a lot of back and forth on this) but I just really prefer exceptionally smart people with a proven track record of difficult personal accomplishments for complex, dynamic jobs. It doesn’t always work out of course and we all love the story of a hard luck savants or worker bees who just grind up through the ranks but I’ll take my odds with the guy who managed to play football and still graduate from Harvard with a bachelors in Econ and a masters in computer science in 3 years to manage my team. And the guy who also graduated as an all Ivy League player and has coached just about every offensive position group at the pro level to coach the team.

I really love each’s professional demeanor and that they don’t get worked up by momentary crap. So many fans want hot headed bulls for coaches that visibly reflect their own anxiety and frustration but the best ones usually stay cool and calculated under fire. When coaches start losing their cool in adversity, the team is usually not far behind.

A lots riding on this year, mostly for DW. And the verdict will mostly be in on the trade if he’s anything short of ‘decent’. If he’s decent to good most of the year (not even considering elite), this team could go deep. The injury and recovery gods will have a big a say either way but I have more confidence in the roster and it being prepared to play on any given Sunday than just about any other time since 99.

I agree with your point except for the bolded part.

This is where the DW trade discussion begins to unravel. The discussion should be about DW and HIS play and what we gave up to get him...and when that point looks weak, the discussion turns to some fanciful projection of what the previous QB could or couldn't do.

BM has 2x the number of playoff wins as both DW and Kirk Cousins. BM has the same number of playoff wins as Lamar Jackson. BM took US to the playoffs the year before his shoulder got destroyed and was one Rashard Higgins fumble or Chad Henne jailbreak away from getting to the AFC Championship game. He won his division in what was supposed to be a re-building year AND his 2nd playoff game against a Super Bowl favorite Eagles. The bolded point above ^ is factually and statistically incorrect.

Those who evaluated the QB position projected that DW would be a QB to take us deep into the playoffs. He still may...even while never having done so before. For me, evaluating the trade has nothing to do with BM or whatever the team thought of him. It's about DW and HIS play versus what we gave up to get him. So far, that has been a failure.

If one wants to have a separate discussion about which QB is better - BM or DW - then so be it. If one happens to think DW is the better QB...be sure to avoid discussing playoff wins and division titles.

I have heard that a lot. If you try and fail is that a sign of success or failure?

I'm not saying the deal will fail. There's still three years to go with which to determine that. But every trade and every draft pick made in the NFL, especially first round draft picks, all 32 GM's are "trying to win" with their decisions. Some succeed and some fail. It sounds as if you are almost advocating a participation trophy for trying. That's not how any of this works.

If this fails it will be no less of a failure than drafting Johnny Football. In both cases people were trying to make decisions to help the Browns win. If this decision fails the end result will be no different. With the exception that if this fails it will come at a much higher cost.

Ahhh. Depodesta "did the deal" to bring Watson here.

From what I heard (from someone in the know) the reason we have Watson is Haslam. Haslam wanted him and made sure Berry brought him here.

Yeah, I think it's pretty safe to say that Haslam was the one laying down the biggest deal in NFL history. Especially since he had to put $250 million in escrow to get it done. But who knows, maybe DePo did the deal and just sent him an email.

LOL!

Of course he did.

Unlike you I don't think he was the one with any final decision. I think everybody bought in.

Why are you posting up a Wiki link?

Actually, it was a fax that he was going to claim didn't go thru. But little did he know, Sashi fixed the fax machine before he left.

Lolz.

What evidence do you have Depo was behind this? We have no idea who first came up with the idea. Nor do we know what went on behind closed doors. What we do know is who made the ultimate decision. Haslam. The fact he signs the checks shows he made the ultimate decision. In actuality I've never seen anywhere that Depo is involved with major personnel decisions. That's the job of the GM and his staff. Depo has always been known mainly as a numbers guy. It seems as though your reaching to a major conclusion here.

Mac, what you're saying about Baker is true, but he is playing in a weak division. When he got the ball back against Detroit for Tampa's last drive I said to friends that Baker will throw an INT. 2nd throw he did game over just like more than a few times with us. I like Baker and have no axes to grind over him, but I really feel as most of our fans do, he could not lead us to a SB and our FO obviously felt the same way. Let's see how the next 3 years pan out to reach a definitive result and then we all can make our assessments. By the way and it's JMO, Spencer Rattler has Baker Mayfield written all over him. Again, JMO

I agree with you about waiting things out and seeing how it goes over the next three years. Only then can we know how this thing plays out.

And I don't really disagree with you that Baker plays in a much weaker division than the AFC North. But there is one thing that's undeniable. To this point over the past two seasons Baker has done more than watson.

In 2023 Baker threw for just over 4k yards while completing 64.3% of his passes with 28 td's and 10 int's. No matter how anyone slices it those are some damned fine numbers.

The story is still yet to be written but that doesn't change where things stand at this juncture.

Rotflmfao. Still making up stories I see

Agreed.

I am sure that Depo was involved in the Watson discussion, but he didn't make any decisions any more than anybody else involved.

Depo's value to the team and the others in management is he provides historical and projected data to those people and is probably heavily involved in cap management. He is also a valued confidant to ownership.

He is the navigator, not the captain.

I actually find this surprising. That would mean the Haslams were not fond of Baker which I don’t think was the case.

More than likely the way it played out was Berry and Co. did their due diligence and got Haslam all spun up about the possibility of Watson here. Once they got Haslam spun up about it and once they got removed from consideration then I bet Haslam might of interjected and probably asked what it would take to get it done. Then made it happen.

But the way you wrote this pdawg kind of implies that Haslam was behind the whole thing. I just can’t fathom that’s the way it went down.

It seems you don't understand what "helped to facilitate it" means. To facilitate means to make something easier. That's far different from the assertions you're making.

You already moved the goal posts by claiming "helped to facilitate" means something it doesn't.

The airplane that took them down to meet with Watson also facilitated the deal. As did the copy room that was printing out the contract... and the pen Watson used to sign it.

I'm late here, but this is well deserved and a no brainer

Maybe it’s time for this opinion to be up for discussion again? (Not a personal rant against you Dawgs4Life but from a wider perspective)

The first time I had a reason to question these guys decision makings was how they handled Baker when he got injured. To call it incompetence and childish behavior is an understatement. (and that goes for all three of them)

The second time was when they signed Watson.

The red warning flags was blinking all the way until he signed but their naivety and inexperience probably got them blindsided to be part of a deal that will probably soon be labeled as on of the worst trade in the NFL history.

Have these two improved this organization since 2020 if we factor the resources that they have gotten to their disposal?

Maybe an unpopular view but I expect a Tripp Trapp Trull scenario when the season is over if we don’t turn this over and go to the playoffs.

Stefanski will probably be the first scapegoat.
Berry maybe has luck but I expect him going too and as so as the owners find a suitable financial solution then Watson will finally have his sought out happy ending.

$230m guaranteed isn’t a “swing”.

What you’re doing, intentionally or probably unintentionally, is to make us believe that Berry and Stefanski didn’t have authority and integrity enough to vote against if they thought that Watson was the wrong choice.

So what do you believe?

The Haslam’s is exclusively making all the decisions by themselves without consulting his two powerless sidekicks or maybe, just maybe, that all of the organization’s important decision makers was onboard when they decided to pay Watson guaranteed money.

I'd go with something in between.

Haslams said get it done and Berry set a budget. Kevin was likely on board due to the Baker stuff, I don't think they meshed. Once Watson "nah" to the offer the rich guy decided he would buy his way back in and blew the budget, which is his right to do. Whether he bought a lemon or the sale created a lemon is something we can debate but will never really know since we can't look into alternate universes.

I don't think Haslam pushed for Watson at all, neither did Depo.. The move doesn't fit with an owner concerned with his image, and the analytics don't fit for Depo. This was 100 Berry and KS selling it to Haslam

I disagree strongly on Depo - Watson was an analytics wet dream with some of his stats in his best years in HOU. We got them quoted to us repeatedly when the trade was made to tell us what a stud we were getting any time posters expressed doubt over the trade. And based on the front office being tight and on board and all on the same page, I have to think the decision was made jointly and all 4 own it.

never said he didn't have final say, you made it sound like it was his idea. Big difference. This was KS/Berry selling it to Haslam and haslam agreeing to it

His stats were good, but stats for what? Two vastly different style of offense, would the same stats matter, Now I never said all 4 didn't have some hand in it, I'm just saying it didn't start at the top and go down. I still say this was a Berry/KS pick and they brought it up the chain and sold it

j/c

I can't see any way where the move for Watson is made without a strong approval from ownership (if not an edict)

I can't imagine being a GM and urging us to sign him, even despite his on the field play

we've reached the point (if we hadn't already) where the organization needs to just cut bait with him IMO. The fans, in general, hate him. It seems like the players don't believe in him ... nor does he believe in himself.

Our offense has been so bad

Based on what? The man with the most to gain in all of this was Haslam. Bringing a consistent winner to Cleveland and a possible Super Bowl would line his pockets more than anyone. Just selling the fan base the Browns had a shot at a SB with watson at QB would line his pockets. The one consistent thing people can do to find the answer to a question is follow the money.

The key word in your argumentation is ‘big risk’ and so far the “big risk” has been a total failure.
That alone should tell you that the risk wasn’t worth taking if you consider all the negative factors that surrounded Watson at the time he signed the contract.

If DSW had no history's of bad behaviors, no history of conflicts with his former employer and no legal issues then maybe it would be a risk worth taking.

An unexpected injury is something that’s out of our control but with all the negative luggage that followed Watson it wasn’t a “big risk”, it was a stupid and irresponsible decision who seemed to be endorsed by two naive leaders who didn’t do a deep enough due diligence and who didn’t use their common sense.

Any sensible leader with experience would have said no to guaranteed money, especially 230m over 5 years.

That itself, together with this seasons negative trend of bad results, is why some of us are questioning Berry and Ski’s competence.

DW isn’t playing at a top ten level as you probably is aware of so that’s why this discussion is relevant.
My opinion is that making such a huge investment and not improving the results must came with consequences.

bone...I agree...any attempt to lay the blame for this Watson debacle onto HC Stefanski or GM Berry would be nothing more than a successful search by those at the very top of the Browns franchise to find their scapegoats for the mess they manufactured.

It's about time that those at the top of the Browns franchise accept their responsibility as the owner and chief strategist.

I'm not sure you're totally familiar with how it work in the corporate world because any crucial decision involving almost 25% of future outgoing expensives inside such a big organization doesn't work the way you two think.
Off course the owners have the final say regarding signing the check, and that goes without saying because the franchise at that time needed a financial injection from the outside to cover the escrow, but it doesn't mean that it wasn't a joint decision involving ALL senior figures inside the organization.

Do you really think that the Haslams is signing the NFL's most expensive contract ever and let two key figures inside the organization execute the decision if they're not sure that all senior figures is totally comfortable with the situation and 100% committed to the future.
Honestly my friends?


Remember the press conference when Berry was publicly defending Watson in front of the whole world and Ski was trying to talk football in a situation when nearly nobody cared.
Do you two really think that any NFL owner would let this happen without knowing that everybody on that stage is fully commited and part of the Browns future?

You can be 100% sure of that it was a mutual decision that required DePodesta, Berry and Stefanski's approval.
Otherwise the Browns would have hired a new GM and a new HC to make sure that everybody walked in the same direction long before they took at decision.

You can probably say a lot about the owners, but you can be sure that their lawyers and financial advisers would never advised them to finalize such a big deal without total consensus.

The scapegoats will not be the owners. That I'm sure about.

Just to continue if I put myself in Berry and Stefanski’s shoes and they had concerns then they probably buried such thoughts immediately when Baker publicly informed the Browns that he was not interested going back. Just to clarify my thoughts what’s happen next is totally understandable from both the Browns and Baker.

Of course Berry and Ski are smart enough to understand that there was serious concerns regarding Watsons situation but what they say in public and what they think inside their own bedroom is two different things.

Both have a career to think about and in such situations they immediately have to pick side so they don’t raise concerns about their commitment.

What I think happened was that when Watson’s camp was willing to accept the offer (guaranteed money) both the owners and the Browns decision makers was willing to cut some corners and gamble even if they had concerns. Maybe their initial due diligence on Watson the player wasn’t deep enough and didn’t cover all potential risks that followed signing a free floating freestyle QB. (this is my definition of his style of play)

From what I can see, and you can correct me if you think I’m wrong, he seems to be a player who makes his best plays on instincts and reaction.
That’s not Stefanski’s way of calling plays.

I totally understand your thoughts so apologies for my long rant. Winning is everything and when you get older you don’t care and how even if Watson isn’t my cup of tea. Peace my friend and hope your health will be with you for many more years.

I fully understand what Bone is saying. I’m not 70 yet but i’m just a few years away. I’ve been a diehard fan since 1967. I’m starting to realize that I’ll never see my Browns in a Super Bowl. Heck the way things are going I might never see them win the North. Sad 😞

Congratulations!
77 is a respectable age and I’m sure you have many more good years in front of you. Never lose faith.

I know exactly when the Browns will win the Superbowl.

2 years after I die
It won't be the year after because they will want to make sure that I am dead and gone
They wouldn't want to take any chances

Health is the most important thing we have in life but you seem to be a fighter so just continue doing your exercises and eat healthy, you will come a long way with that.

It’s so frustrated being a Browns supporter because most of the organizations problems is lack of leadership, discipline and accountability.
Bad results just don’t come flying without a reason. From what I see on game days and press conferences is that players and coaches seem to accept bad results without doing a deep dive into what’s is missing.

Go on record saying we need an adult in the QB room and then trade for Watson says it all. Honestly.
I don’t blame Deshaun, he’s fat and happy now. He doesn’t care any longer as long as he gets his pay check.
Isn’t that obvious.

Happy Birthday Bonefish..

Happy Birthday Bone and many more in good health 👍

happy birthday buddy!

Glad you are still around Bone

Bone...some years back I remember you talking about your exercise routine..swimming laps..and I thought at the time..now this is a guy who's going to live a long time. But like you pointed out, we never know when our time will come.

All of your hard work, swimming/exercise and your dedication toward doing as much as you could to live a long, healthy
life...IT BOUGHT YOU A SECOND CHANCE!

I would be thankful if I received a second chance..!




Bone...this part, concerning the Browns..all of us have our hopes and dreams but what happens with the Browns, the only Pro-team some of us have ever supported..some who are paid a remarkable amount to run the Browns franchise simply do not care as much as some Browns fans do.

Having a background in football, sports management and how to judge and how to treat players...those are just a few of the basic qualities needed to build a successful franchise. Some NFL owners are successful businessmen who judge their success or failure based on the amount of money their franchises are able to accumulate under their leadership.

I don't know if the Browns will ever figure out how to build a winning franchise...there are plenty of examples available that the Browns owners could try to emulate, copy or use as an example, if the Browns were interested in building a winning, successful franchise...the 49ers..the LIONS..the BRONCOS...just to name a few NFL franchises that have found a way to succeed.

...but, they sure could write a library of books on what not to do to build a winning NFL franchise.

Under the Haslam ownership beginning seven games into the 2012 season, Jimmy and Dee Haslam have a record of 44-94-1 and through the end of the 2020 regular season.

Some Browns fans simply care more than maybe they should.

You make it sound as if everyone had to be on the same page for the Browns to sign watson. That any sound of decent would have derailed that trade. I highly doubt that. I'm not saying whether a unanimous decision was made or not. But it wasn't needed. What I don't believe happened is that Stefanski went to the higher ups and requested they get watson. The FO and owner are the decision makers. I would certainly say they asked Stefanski if he felt he could work with watson and my guess would be that Stefanski said yes.

But this is a analytics driven team in terms of decision making. We've seen it with drafting players who have high SPARQ scores even when other statistics may not indicate they should be drafted at their draft position. Maybe you think that Stefanski saying that watson would be fine is the same as being part of the decision making. If that's so I misunderstood your intentions. But the analytics and stats combined with the ability to manage the cap with such a contract were the deciding factors. The fact Haslam felt the Browns would have a shot at the SB with watson at QB was another one.