Kevin Stefanski named Coach of the Year at NFL Honors

By Mitch Spinell

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski was named the NFL Head Coach of the Year at Saturday night's NFL Honors.

The 38-year-old rookie coach became the second in Browns history to win the award, after Forrest Gregg in 1976.

“I’m incredibly humbled, especially given some of the coaching we’ve witnessed this season around the NFL,” Stefanski said in a video at the awards show. “My name may be on this award, but I think this speaks to the amazing support I get day in and day out from my coaching staff with the Cleveland Browns. I’m very glad I don’t have to do this by myself."

Stefanski was hired thirteen months ago after spending fourteen seasons in the Minnesota Vikings' coaching system to take over a Cleveland Browns squad that had not seen postseason play since 2002. He also had to deal with running an NFL squad in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, not meeting most of his players in person until August, and spending the team's playoff opener in his basement after testing positive.

In 2020, Cleveland finished at 11-5 - their first winning record since 2007 - and their 48-37 Wild Card victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers caught the attention of much of the NFL world.

The Browns advanced to the Divisional round, losing to the eventual AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs 22-17.

Stefanski was also named Coach of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America and The Sporting News, becoming the first coach to win all three in one season since Sean McVay in 2017.