The Cleveland Browns stumbled through 2025 and finished with a 5–12 record. Expectations were higher, but wins did not come. Ownership and management moved quickly after the season. The head coach was fired in January and the roster entered a reset.
Kevin Stefanski, who led the team for years and earned two Coach of the Year awards, spoke warmly about Shedeur Sanders. Sanders started eight games after opening the year as the third-string quarterback. His unexpected fall in the 2025 draft was a constant topic, but somehow, late in the season, he showed flashes as a 24-year-old. Finished the season with 1400 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and ten interceptions.
On the latest episode of Pardon My Take, Stefanski was clear.
“I will say this: I love Shedeur. I loved coaching him, seriously. He’s got the right makeup for this game, he was wired the right way. I wish that we won more, obviously, but if you saw how he played down the stretch, I mean, he’s a young player that’s getting better. I’m not coaching him anymore, so I know I have to be careful about talking about other players, but I am rooting for him.” That endorsement matters.
MORE: 2026 NFL Scouting Combine day 5: full day 5 schedule, how to watch live workouts
Still, the quarterback picture in Cleveland remains unsettled. Seth Walder has floated a possible trade for Kyler Murray. Murray’s large contract and a potential move from the Arizona Cardinals would change the competition. New coach Todd Monken and GM Andrew Berry insist on an open fight.
Shedeur Sanders will compete with veterans like Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel for the job, per The Sporting News, which has tracked the chatter closely. Sanders’ growth and poise give him a real chance now.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —
NFL: 4 blockbuster NFL trades we want to see before the 2026 draft
OLYMPICS: Most talked-about Olympic romances from 2026 Winter Games
NBA: Andrew Friedman, other Dodgers execs get new roles with Lakers after $10 billion sale
SPORTS MEDIA: USA men’s hockey draws record Olympic gold medal TV viewership
ENTERTAINMENT: Martin Short’s daughter Katherine tragically dies at age 42
VIRAL: Pat McAfee makes stunning gesture during Team USA’s $150K Gold medal celebration
