Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry gave head coach Kevin Stefanski a public vote of confidence on Wednesday. 

“Kevin has had to navigate some pretty unique circumstances and some pretty difficult circumstances during his tenure as a head coach,” Berry said about Stefanski while speaking with reporters, per Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “Our belief in Kevin is just as strong as the day that we hired him. He’s smart. He’s a servant leader. He’s creative. We know he has the ability to lead our team to wins. We feel really good. We feel like the locker room is in good hands. We know he pushes our guys. We’re looking forward to playing good football in the second half.” 

Stefanski earned Coach of the Year honors for 2020 but then endured a rocky 2021 campaign during which quarterback Baker Mayfield played injured, when he was available, throughout the majority of the season. Stefanski’s Browns are currently 3-5 but have been without offseason acquisition Deshaun Watson, who hasn’t yet featured as the club’s new QB1 for a meaningful game. Watson is still serving an 11-game suspension related to allegations of sexual misconduct during massage sessions.

Backup Jacoby Brissett has started in Watson’s place. 

“Kevin has shown that he has the ability to both manage the game and call the offense,” Berry continued. “He’s done a nice job under a variety of circumstances as the play caller, and he’s organized and bright enough where he can manage the broader aspects of the job. He’s acutely aware, as really we all are, that as the head coach it’s not just about running the offense or calling the plays; it’s about managing the entire team. He takes that responsibility seriously.”

Stefanski’s next task will be to keep the Browns in the playoff hunt across upcoming matchups against the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers before Watson is eligible to make his Cleveland regular-season debut at the Houston Texans, his former employer, in Week 13 on Dec. 4.