With the Cleveland Browns limping to just three wins this season, questions around Kevin Stefanski’s future have naturally led to speculation about potential replacements. When Bill Belichick’s name, the legendary former head coach of the New England Patriots, briefly surfaced in those conversations, a veteran Browns reporter wasted no time shutting the idea down.

“I think it’s ridiculous to even consider him…He’s a Hall of Fame coach, but he’s not a coach I want at this time for the Cleveland Browns,” said Browns beat reporter Tony Grossi on WKNR 850 AM.

One of the most fundamental obstacles to Belichick landing in Cleveland isn’t just whether the Browns might consider him; that Belichick himself has publicly shut the door on returning to the NFL right now. “My focus remains solely on continuing to improve this team, develop our players, and build a program that makes Tar Heels fans proud.” But, even if they wanted him, the clearest reasons Belichick does not align with a potential Browns reset is how his first season at North Carolina actually unfolded.

Expectations were sky-high when he took over the Tar Heels program and signed a five-year, $50 million deal, but instead of steady progress, the team regressed. North Carolina finished 4-8 overall and 2-6 in ACC play, with five losses by at least 16 points and only three wins against teams with a combined 8-28 record. After a 42-19 loss to rival NC State to end the season, Belichick gave short, almost defensive answers in the postgame locker room. Asked about the season, he said, “I’m sorry I don’t have a season recap for you. I don’t have one, we haven’t done it.”

Belichick’s season in Chapel Hill was also marked by off-field distractions that bled into the narrative around the program. Throughout 2025, coverage repeatedly focused on his relationship with 24-year-old Jordon Hudson, a presence conspicuous enough that analysts publicly criticized the optics. One commentator said of Hudson’s sideline visibility, “He’s made this a circus … she’s walking the sidelines … this is tarnishing his legacy.” It’s the kind of media distraction any NFL franchise would seek to avoid, especially one already in a fragile competitive phase like the Browns

 For NFL evaluators, that matters. 

 In today’s league, successful franchises tend to distribute power among coordinators, analytics departments, and personnel executives; there is far less tolerance for a single coach dominating every decision. Belichick’s historical preference for vertical control, where personnel, scouting, and coaching all funnel through him, clashes with modern NFL governance structures.

We have seen how Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry’s overall decisions have taken the Browns this season. The entire offseason, Cleveland was in a state of confusion, even though Stefanski delivered perfect statements at press conferences. The quarterback “competition” went up in the air, with Dillon Gabriel ending the season with a dismal 1-5 record. And the Browns suffered a final gut punch against the Titans when Stefanski pulled Shedeur Sanders out before a crucial two-point attempt. So, bringing in another coach who needs complete control over the organization could turn out to be an awful decision.

The 73-year-old head coach has an aggressive coaching style that is not very player-oriented. “Bully ball,” as former Browns tight end Scott Galbraith calls it. But bringing Belichick to Cleveland had a purpose back in the day.

Former owner Art Modell hired Belichick after their disappointing 3-13 season in 1990. He wanted a fresh face, and thus it marked Belichick’s first gig as a head coach.

However, the then-quarterback Bernie Kosar and Belichick started having a difference of opinion over play-calling. Kosar wanted to go aggressive, while Belichick had a more traditional approach. After Kosar defied orders by throwing a touchdown pass instead of kneeling in a 1993 loss to the Broncos, Belichick cut him mid-season, citing “diminishing skills.” That ignited massive fan and locker room backlash.

Closely tied to that structural mismatch is the question of philosophical relevance in today’s game. Critics argue that Belichick’s approach hasn’t adapted sufficiently to the speed-oriented, high-tempo offensive era of modern football. His recent drafts and roster construction in New England were frequently criticized for under-prioritizing offensive speed, versatile pass catchers, and dynamic playmakers. Basically elements that are staples of current league success. Observers have pointed out that while his defensive schematics can still be sound, his overall team construction and adaptation to newer offensive trends lag behind the league’s evolution, which could be a glaring liability for a Browns roster trying to build around youthful offensive talent.

Belichick’s decision to ban New England Patriots scouts from UNC practices reflected another point of friction that would be problematic in the NFL. When asked why Patriots personnel were denied access, Belichick answered bluntly, “It’s clear that I’m not welcome there at their facility, so they’re not welcome at ours. It’s pretty simple.” NFL rosters rely on maximum exposure for talent, and inhibiting scouts, even from a former team, contradicts what most front offices expect from a head coach’s role in player evaluation and development.

But to be fair, Bill Belichick did take the Browns to the playoffs once in 1994. But, owing to a 5-11 record in 1995 and his overall 36-44 record with the Browns, Modell eventually fired him when he decided to move the team to Baltimore.

If we compare that with the present head coach, Stefanski, his overall record is better at 43-55. But the Browns sit at 3-11 this season, and that signals just one thing: Stefanski probably faces firing.

Kevin Stefanski’s firing talks heat up, but “no decision” yet

Stefanski and Berry signed an extension last season, and owner Jimmy Haslam praised both of them at the time. And with Haslam saying in the offseason that he needs more than three wins this season, the upcoming offseason looks shaky for both Stefanski and Berry. But per reports, that decision is still pending.

“No decisions have been made on the future of Kevin Stefanski, the two-time NFL Coach of the Year. The Browns know Stefanski can coach, and he has maintained a consistent approach amid the adversity of a transition year with a young roster. But the hard reality is the Browns are 6-25 over the past two seasons, putting everything up for evaluation,” NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero wrote on Dec 20.

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However, if Stefanski is cut loose, he will find another suitor quickly. His track record speaks for itself. He brought back the struggling Browns franchise by leading them to the playoffs after 17 long years in 2020. He has been the most successful head coach in Cleveland’s history since their 1999 revival.

But as far as Bill Belichick is concerned, he signed a $50 million deal with UNC and plans on sticking with the program. Again, this offseason brings a lot of questions for the Browns and Haslam, and it will be interesting to see how the front office handles it.