On Black Monday, the Cleveland Browns made headlines by firing head coach Kevin Stefanski, who wrapped up the 2025 season with a disappointing 5-12 record. Over his six seasons, Stefanski lost a total of 56 games. However, in a surprising move that caught many off guard, the Browns opted to keep general manager Andrew Berry, who shares a similar losing record as the former coach. In fact, the team placed their trust in Berry by assigning him the responsibility of finding the next head coach.
This decision has left ESPN analyst Mina Kimes perplexed. During a segment on ESPN, Kimes openly questioned the Browns” confidence in Berry, especially given the numerous significant failures that have occurred during his tenure. “I am honestly a little puzzled that they trust Andrew Berry to be the steward of all the choices and the cap space and everything… The worst trade in NFL history happened under his watch,” she remarked.
Kimes referred specifically to the controversial 2022 trade that brought quarterback Deshaun Watson to Cleveland. This trade has been widely criticized as one of the most damaging decisions in recent NFL history. Berry sent six draft picks to the Houston Texans, inclusive of three first-round selections, and subsequently awarded Watson a fully guaranteed $230 million contract. While Watson was regarded as a top-tier quarterback at the time, the lack of a contingency plan for such a hefty investment proved problematic.
Since joining the Browns, Watson has struggled significantly, facing legal issues that resulted in an 11-game suspension. His performance on the field has also been disappointing, as he has played in only 19 games over four seasons, often ranking among the least efficient quarterbacks when available to compete.
Kimes” criticism of Berry extends beyond the Watson situation. She highlighted the overall state of the Browns” offense, noting that the offensive line has been problematic and that the team”s wide receivers rank among the weakest in the NFL. “Watching this offense this year, the offensive line is a mess, and there are more burdensome contracts,” Kimes stated.
In the 2025 season, the Browns averaged merely 16.4 points per game and allowed a staggering 51 sacks, placing them in the lower tier of the league according to Pro Football Focus. Despite these struggles, Kimes noted that the Browns boast a defense capable of competing for a Super Bowl, led by standout player Myles Garrett. “That”s a Super Bowl-caliber defense. They should have been paired with a quarterback and offense that could compete, and they haven”t been for a couple of years,” she added.
Given all of this, Kimes expressed her confusion over the Browns” decision to fire Stefanski while retaining Berry. “Moving on from Stefanski, yes, the offense struggled. But splitting them and keeping the GM… it doesn”t really make sense to me,” she concluded.
Nonetheless, there may be reasons behind the Browns” choice to retain Berry. He demonstrated some competence by drafting Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round and scouting other promising players. Additionally, trading the No. 2 pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for additional picks might be seen as a savvy move, especially considering the unforeseen challenges faced by the players involved. The organization appears to favor stability, especially with the impending hiring of their 11th head coach since 1999.
Ultimately, Kimes raises a crucial question: how valuable is stability if the organizational vision is flawed?
