Kevin Stefanski wins 2020 Coach of the Year

Browns HC Kevin Stefanski has been named the 2020 AP NFL Coach of the Year award following in his first season with the Cleveland Browns. After the team endured a playoff drought dating back to the 2002 season, Stefanski led the team to an 11-5 record and a trip to the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs. Their last trip to the Divisional Round was in the 1994 NFL Season, where they also finished 11-5, under Bill Belichick.

Stefanski had worked his way up through the Minnesota Vikings organization after his start in 2006 as an assistant. Through the years, he worked his way through the ranks as Assistant QB coach, TE coach, RB coach and QB coach before assuming the role of offensive coordinator in 2019.

Under his guidance as OC in the 2019 season, the Vikings ranked top-10 in points scored, yards per play, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.

The Browns continued on the path of dominance despite injuries on defense to lead the league with one of the most dominant RB tandems in the league — Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. These two backs combined for 2,361 scrimmage yards and 23 touchdowns. QB Baker Mayfield managed a bounce-back season as well, with 3,563 passing yards, 26 passing TDs and a career-low 8 INTs.