For a coach with a 2-7 record, job security is usually a fantasy. But in Cleveland, it might just be a reality. The Cleveland Browns’ latest defeat, 27-20 to the New York Jets, puts head coach Kevin Stefanski on the hot seat. But according to one of the insiders in Cleveland, the Browns have already thought of something on Stefanski’s future, despite the current record status.

As Mary Kay Cabot from Cleveland.com explained on the Orange and Brown Talk podcast: “I think Kevin Stefanski is 100% totally safe. I think that Jimmy Haslam indicated even at the NFL annual meeting that Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski were going to be breaking in rookie quarterbacks this year, and this was not the season in which they were going to have their feet held to the fire.”

Her remarks act as a reinforcement of this being the long-term approach, despite the disappointing results. The Browns’ record under Stefanski is 42-51. Additionally, they won their first playoff game after nearly three decades, in Stefanski’s first year as the head coach. Whatever early momentum existed under his leadership was lost within a pattern of inconsistent offense and too often penalty-prone play.

The quarterback position has been a point of concern for them. Rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel, thrust into a starting role after the trade of veteran Joe Flacco. However, he has had an inconsistent start. In the loss to the Jets, he was sacked six times, though he eventually did settle in late.

“I really don’t think Kevin’s in any trouble right now,” added Cabot. “Maybe they’ll re-evaluate after the season.”

While Cabot points to a rebuilding year, Stefanski’s overall record tells a story of diminishing returns since his successful first season. Still, patience may be wearing thin among Browns fans. The Berry-Stefanski era, once hailed as the start of a rare period of stability in Cleveland, has slowly and steadily eroded public confidence in their abilities.

The team has consistently demonstrated its inability to carry momentum. However, Cabot believes that the Browns will stick with Stefanski.

But not every insider is as optimistic as Cabot, of course. ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Rizzo was brutally critical on Sunday after the loss, demanding Stefanski be fired immediately.

“Come out of the bye week and that is what you produce? Folks, goodbye,” Rizzo said on The Really Big Show.

“Goodbye, gonezo. If there was any doubt that the coaching staff was coming back, all you had to do was watch yesterday’s game…High schools are laughing at you. Kevin Stefanski has to wear this, it’s on him, his team is so poorly coached.”

For the head coach, the wins and losses are on the team as a whole.

Kevin Stefanski opens up on embarrassing loss to Jets

Out of several mistakes, one of the key moments came when defensive lineman Cameron Thomas jumped offsides on a fourth-and-5. The penalty gave New York a first down and allowed them to run out the clock. Cameras caught one of the rare moments of emotion from Stefanski, as he took off his headset and said, “Oh my God.”

When Kevin Stefanski appeared in the post-game press conference, following Sunday’s loss, he didn’t blame Thomas.

”Listen, like I said earlier, we’ll win as a team, we’ll lose as a team…Again, it’s never about one play. We, we have to do our job all of us. In that moment, that’s you know, very disappointing,” he said, reinforcing his belief that discipline and execution are at the root of Cleveland’s struggles.

For now, Kevin Stefanski’s job seems secure, bolstered by the patience of ownership and the understanding that this season’s failures are partly from a rebuilding offense and the pains of a rookie quarterback. But with the Browns at 2-7 and the fan base losing faith, that may not last forever.