The Cleveland Browns opened their season with a gut-punch 17–16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, and the fallout was ugly. Fans zeroed in on rookie kicker Andre Szmyt, who missed an extra point and botched a 36-yard field goal that could have flipped the result.

Special teams coach Raymond “Bubba” Ventrone admitted in a press Conference on September 25th, 2025, the team had already reached out to other kickers before Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers. Szmyt’s leash was thin. When asked if the team contacted other kickers, Bubba replied with a vague, “Um, we might have.” Keeping Sunday in mind, this doesn’t come as a shocker.

With the game tied late, the rookie lined up for a 55-yard attempt — the kind of kick most coaches wouldn’t trust a shaky first-year player to even attempt. Szmyt drilled it, sealing a 13–10 win over Green Bay. In the locker room, head coach Kevin Stefanski delivered a message that cut deeper.

“You’ve been through a lot,” Stefanski told him. “We’ve got your back. And I know who was watching that field goal go through. That was your mom. Congratulations.” The Browns swarmed their kicker, celebrating their first win of 2025 while rallying around a player who just days earlier was on the verge of losing his job. However, it wasn’t just Szmyt who flipped the script.

The Browns’ offense sputtered for three quarters before running back Quinshon Judkins ripped off a 38-yard burst in the fourth, setting up Szmyt’s 35-yarder that cut the deficit to seven with under four minutes left. From there, the rookie’s redemption arc took center stage.

Andre Szmyt’s journey to Sunday’s game-winner didn’t happen overnight. He won the job in preseason by knocking through a game-winner against the Rams and beating out veteran Dustin Hopkins. It was what had fueled optimism inside the Browns’ building, enough for the coaching staff to bet on his long-term potential rather than chase a quick fix.

Just weeks later, he missed a PAT and field goal in the one-point loss to Cincinnati. He steadied himself in Week 2 against Baltimore, connecting on all his attempts, including a 38-yarder. The rookie himself summed it up best: “Preseason hit the game-winner, win the job, but it’s trying to stay level. Have a bad game and it feels like everything is crashing down… but you’re here for a reason.” Even listed as questionable with a calf injury before facing Green Bay, Szmyt showed no hesitation when it mattered most.

Kevin Stefanski praises rookie’s resilience

Afterward, Stefanski dropped a message for the rookie: “I’m really proud of that young man. I’m happy for that young man. He’s been through a lot, and he came through,” Stefanski said, acknowledging the raw emotion tied to the moment. In July, Szmyt lost his mother to a sudden brain aneurysm, a personal tragedy that has hung over his rookie year. “This is the NFL. It’s hard,” Stefanski added. “You’re going to go up against some tough teams and some tough matchups, and you have to fight, scratch, and claw.”

After safety Grant Delpit snatched an interception, the Browns turned back to rookie running back Quinshon Judkins, who powered in from a yard out to tie the game. Szmyt added the extra point without hesitation. When the Packers drove back down the field and lined up for a game-winning field goal of their own, it looked like Cleveland was about to walk off empty-handed. But fate had other plans. Cornerback Denzel Ward and defensive tackle Shelby Harris broke through, blocking the attempt and breathing new life into the Browns.

Joe Flacco calmly steered the offense into striking distance. Then came Szmyt’s chance—a 55-yard kick that could erase the noise of September. With the weight of Cleveland on his shoulders, he drilled it clean through the uprights. Proof that resilience can outweigh doubt. Now the road gets tougher. The Cleveland Browns (1-2) head to Ford Field for a Week 4 showdown with the Detroit Lions (2-1), and all eyes will be on Andre Szmyt.