Browns lose coach Stefanski to COVID-19

CLEVELAND — Two days after celebrating their return to the NFL playoffs, the Cleveland Browns were knocked flat.

COVID-19 will keep coach Kevin Stefanski and at least two players, one a Pro Bowler, out of the team’s first playoff game since the 2002 season.

The Browns announced Tuesday — 18 years to the day since their last playoff game — that Stefanski tested positive for the coronavirus, which has plagued the team in recent weeks and now is causing a major disruption as Cleveland prepares to play Pittsburgh on Sunday for the second straight week.

Just 48 hours earlier, the Browns and their fans were overjoyed when the team ended the league’s longest playoff drought with a 24-22 win over the Steelers, who rested quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and others to be fresh for the playoffs.

Now, the Browns are launching contingency plans that have been in place since the pandemic began.

Stefanski tested positive along with Pro Bowl left guard Joel Bitonio, wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge and two more coaching staff members, tight ends coach Drew Petzing and defensive backs coach Jeff Howard. The Browns already had six players and three other assistants on the reserve

COVID-19 list.

Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer will be the acting head coach Sunday.

Browns center and NFLPA President JC Tretter called Stefanski’s loss “huge.” Tretter has been in touch with Bitonio, the team’s longest tenured player, who has been through years of losing only to have his first taste of the playoffs end abruptly.

“I feel for him and all the guys who won’t be able to play,” Tretter said. “Extremely tough.”