Right now, the Cleveland Browns sit at 2-5, and fans in The Land aren’t exactly patient anymore. Head coach Kevin Stefanski is once again under the microscope. Every week feels like a test, and Week 8 on the road against the New England Patriots might be his biggest one yet. And now Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has stepped in with a clear message about Stefanski’s future.

Recently, Haslam sat down with The Athletic’s Dianna Russini and didn’t hold back on how he feels about his head coach. “Kevin’s done a really good job with us, and we’ve had some tough breaks,” Haslam said. “A big trade we made didn’t work out, and you know, we’re all suffering from that. Kevin, I thought, really did a great job of rallying the troops last week at a really critical time. You find out about leaders when things are bad, not when they’re good, and he did a good job last week.”

Haslam made it clear that he has no intention of making a coaching change despite the team’s recent struggles. He emphasized that Stefanski has the full confidence of ownership and that the focus remains on supporting him and the roster to turn the season around, rather than seeking quick fixes or scapegoats.

Of course, the “big trade” Haslam mentioned is none other than the blockbuster move for quarterback Deshaun Watson. The Browns went all in back in 2022, but the results have been far from what anyone expected. Since joining the team, Watson has played just 19 games. In that stretch, he’s posted a passer rating of 80.7, throwing for 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. For a player meant to change the franchise’s direction, those numbers tell a different story.

Notably, the Browns committed to Deshaun Watson with a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract. The deal locks him in through the 2026 season and carries staggering cap implications: $80.7 million in 2026, $27 million in 2027, $18.1 million in 2028, and $7.9 million in 2029.

So, it’s easy to understand why Haslam feels this way. After all, someone’s got to steer this ship through the storm. So, what does Stefanski’s future really look like now?

Kevin Stefanski has to improve quickly

While the noise around Cleveland keeps getting louder, the Browns showed they still can compete. Their dominant win over the Miami Dolphins reminded everyone what this team can look like when things click. Running back Quinshon Judkins led the charge with 84 rushing yards and three touchdowns, setting the tone early. When the offense finds rhythm like that, it’s proof that Kevin Stefanski still has a handle on this locker room and can get his team playing up to its potential.

So, while Jimmy Haslam’s confidence buys Stefanski time to address roster issues and find solutions without constantly worrying about job security. However, it also raises expectations for the rest of the 2025 season. Every game from here on out matters, and the Browns’ direction could shift quickly depending on how they respond.

Fans across the Dawg Pound may still question the results, but inside the building, there’s trust and belief. So now all eyes are on Week 8. Let’s see if the Browns can back up their owner’s words against the Patriots.