With the NFL offseason rapidly approaching, the New York Giants find themselves at a critical crossroads in their search for their next head coach.
The answers to Big Blue’s instability may lie in Cleveland, as reports link two-time Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski to the vacancy.
While a lackluster season has put Stefanski’s future with the Browns in jeopardy, his reputation as a premier offensive architect remains intact. A change of scenery could provide the spark both he and the Giants’ young roster desperately need.
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Giants Named “Ideal Fit” For Browns HC Kevin Stefanski
As the NFL coaching carousel begins to spin ahead of Black Monday, ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler has reported that the Cleveland Browns might be willing to move on from head coach Kevin Stefanski, and that he could be an “ideal fit” for the New York Giants’ vacancy.
“Stefanski might be the strongest retread candidate in the eyes of many. The Giants would be an ideal fit,” Fowler reported.
The Browns have had a disappointing 4-12 campaign through 17 weeks this season. As a result, Stefanski’s future in Cleveland appears increasingly murky, with reports suggesting the Browns have already begun a “preliminary research” into potential replacements.
However, despite the recent struggles, league executives reportedly still view the two-time NFL Coach of the Year (2020, 2023) as an elite “retread” candidate who could thrive with a fresh start outside of the organizational dysfunction that has plagued Cleveland.
Stefanski Has Been Described As A Quarterback Whisperer
The Giants are viewed as an “ideal fit” for Stefanski due to their immediate need for an experienced offensive mind to develop rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.
New York fired Brian Daboll in November 2025 after a 2-8 start to his fourth season, leaving interim coach Mike Kafka to steer the ship.
Stefanski’s track record of maximizing quarterback play (he notably guided the Browns to the playoffs with a 38-year-old Joe Flacco in 2023) is the perfect blueprint for stabilizing a Giants franchise that has struggled with consistency under center.
Developing Dart is priority No. 1 for the G-Men, as they believe the 25th-overall pick is a potential franchise quarterback. Stefanski’s quarterback development history runs deep.
Stefanski spent 14 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, where he developed a reputation as a quarterback whisperer by thriving under three different head coaches (Brad Childress, Leslie Frazier, and Mike Zimmer).
Stefanski was credited with Case Keenum’s career-best season (2017) and Kirk Cousins’s peak years. His ability to build a modern offensive identity is exactly what the Giants need.
He also worked as an assistant QBs coach from 2009–2013, working with veteran Hall of Famer Brett Favre during his magical 2009 run and developing younger prospects like Christian Ponder.
Is Stefanski To Big Blue Realistic?
However, a potential move to East Rutherford is not without its hurdles. Stefanski is currently under contract after signing an extension in June 2024, meaning the Giants might have to navigate a complex departure or even a rare coaching trade to acquire him.
“And trades of any kind are never off the table in Cleveland, but it’d be tricky trying to trade a coach who’s 7-26 over the past two years,” Fowler added to his report.
While his 7–26 record over the past two seasons has called his standing in Cleveland into question, many feel as though his tenure with the team was sabotaged by the Deshaun Watson trade and subsequent quarterback instability.
Even if the Cleveland Browns officially decide to move on, the Giants would likely face competition from other teams, such as the Tennessee Titans, who are also reportedly monitoring Stefanski’s status as a top-tier candidate for their head coaching vacancy.
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