Heading into his sixth year as the Browns‘ HC, Kevin Stefanski has had that “hot seat” buzz hovering around him. But after Sunday’s nail-biter against the Bengals, it doesn’t look like anyone’s reaching for the fire button just yet. Of course, the loss stings, a few dropped passes, a handful of picks—but Stefanski’s adjustments throughout the game showed why he’s still trusted.

The defense, for one, held Cincy to just 141 yards. Besides, if not for the missed field goal, the Browns might be talking about a completely different outcome. Now, in a hypothetical world, what if Stefanski had a flat-out due in Week 1? Or let’s just imagine the Browns hitting a rough patch in the next weeks, would he be the first to go?

Well, based on what came out of the annual league meeting in March, The Athletic’s Jason Lloyd thinks Stefanski’s seat is firmly planted, thanks to the Browns’ owner, Jimmy Haslam. “I also think Jimmy (Haslam) sort of put his hand up in March and more or less admitted that Deshaun (Watson) thing as he was the one at the end pushing. Which is why he’s kind of given these guys (Stefanski and Andrew Berry) a mulligan,” Lloyd said on 92.3 The Fan. “Because I think he does believe in them.” Translation?

Back in March, Haslam acknowledged that he took the responsibility for Deshaun Watson’s $230 million (gave up three first-round picks) contract that turned out to be a big swing and a miss. Considering the case, Haslam owns part of the blame. So, when the question arises against the quarterback conundrum, which has been a part of the Browns’ culture for the past few seasons, the owner, the HC, and the GM will share the blame. Not just Stefanski and Berry.

A few years back, the Browns acquired Watson from Houston in exchange for three first-round picks. and gave him a fully guaranteed deal. “We took a big swing and miss with Deshaun,” Haslam told the reporters at the annual league meeting. “We thought we had the quarterback, we didn’t, and we gave up a lot of draft picks to get him. So we’ve got to dig ourselves out of that hole. (It) was an entire organization decision and it ends with Dee (Haslam) and I, so hold us accountable.”

At the moment, there are gaps in the Browns’ quarterback room. Joe Flacco is the QB1, but for how long? No one knows it. Word out there is that the Browns would be one of the worst-performing teams in the 2025 season. However, considering Haslam took accountability for Watson’s $230 million contract mistake, including losing three first-round picks, Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry seem safe. At least, that’s what Lloyd suggested. Meanwhile, Watson is still optimistic about a return to the Browns’ active roster this season.

What’s the timeline of Kevin Stefanski’s injured quarterback?

Takeaways from Deshaun Watson’s time in Cleveland: 19 games/starts, a track record of 9-10, a six-game regular season suspension in his first year with the Browns, and multiple injury complications. Taken all together, even though he wasn’t on the field this offseason, somehow, he became one of the biggest storylines in Cleveland.

The quarterback tore his Achilles tendon last season, then reinjured it earlier this year. Fast forward to the roster cutdown day, and the Browns put him on the PUP list. But that optimism around his return to the 53-man squad? It’s still there. “Watson, recovering from surgery to repair his retorn Achilles, will have to remain on the PUP list for at least the first four games of the season,” Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com said just a few days before the season opener.

“But he’s coming along well in his rehab and has been dropping back with ease and throwing the ball a lot in the Browns’ fieldhouse.” On top of that, the 29-year-old has been dropping hints of a full-strength comeback during his practice snippets on social media. It’s still unclear if he’ll get the nod to start, sure. But Stefanski’s injured quarterback is widely expected to be back in action by Week 5.

The reason? It’s, of course, his $230 million deal. Once Watson gets healthy, the Browns will have three choices. One: put him on the 53-man squad. Two: cut him and take a $130 million cap charge next year. Three: Claim that the quarterback is not healthy. The writing is on the wall: it’s unlikely for the Browns to release Watson, considering they’ve to tackle a $130 million cap charge next year.