Browns fill final coaching vacancy
Akron Beacon Journal
AKRON, Ohio – As the new head coach of the Browns, Kevin Stefanski will face one of the main questions that dogged Freddie Kitchens last year.
Will he be the commanding leader the Browns need to manage the larger-than-life personalities and elite talent on their roster? Will he be able to maximize the talents of Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry while holding them accountable?
It’s a tough task for a rookie head coach, and Kitchens failed to conquer it as the Browns demonstrated a lack of discipline en route to finishing 6-10.
Stefanski signed a five-year contract with the Browns. He is their 18th full-time head coach, 10th since its rebirth in 1999 and sixth since the Haslams became the owners in 2012.
Stefanski spent all 14 of his seasons as an NFL assistant coach with the Vikings. He finished runner-up last year for the gig Kitchens secured, but now he’s a head coach for the first time at any level. Stefanski coached tight ends, running backs and quarterbacks before being promoted to offensive coordinator with three games left in 2018.
The Vikings went 10-6 before defeating the Saints 26-20 in the NFC wild-card round and losing to the 49ers 27-10 in the divisional round.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Joe Judge walked down the steps with his family beside him, into the Coaches Club inside MetLife Stadium, and the first order of business on the day he was being introduced as the head coach of the Giants was to greet the news media.
Judge shook the hand of just about every media member present for his news conference, introducing himself by name about two dozen times – just as reporters would do a few minutes later.
Giants co-owner Steve Tisch promised that, once Judge stepped on stage shortly after 2 p.m. and began his opening statement, we’d all see why the Giants hired him by about 2:10. And he was right. Confident. Comfortable. business.
So what did Patriots’ brass tell the Giants after they decided to hire Judge to lead them into the future?
Tisch quipped: a winner.”
The Patriots certainly know what one looks like. The Giants haven’t been one in a while.
In his first day on the job last week, Judge offered no non“It
All getting sense and a sense of hope.
“I understand we’ve lost some credibility because the last two hires haven’t worked out,” co-owner and team president John Mara said, “but I think (Judge) is unique.”
Mara said the only coaching interview he can compare to the one the Giants had with Judge last Monday was Nick Saban in 1997.
On Judge, who none of the Giants had met before Monday, Mara added: “If you asked me a week ago, 10 days ago, I would have said it probably would have been a long shot.”
Judge seems to like the idea of being the candidate no one saw coming. offensive line coach. Signed RB Tra Carson to a reserve/future contract. Jan. 11: Named Brayden Coombs special teams coordinator. Jan. 13: Named Cory Undlin defensive coordinator.
Indianapolis Colts – Jan. 7: Signed OT Brandon Hitner to a reserve/future contract.
10: Signed WR Artavis Scott to a reserve/future contract. Kansas City Chiefs – Jan. 7: Placed DB Juan Thornhill on IR. Signed G Ryan Hunter.
Los Angeles Rams – Jan. 8: Announced the resignation of special teams coordinator John Fassel to take the same position with Dallas.
Minnesota Vikings – Jan. 10: Signed CB Nate Meadors. Placed CB Mackensie Alexander on IR. Jan. 12: Signed RB Tony
doesn’t matter how you got there, it doesn’t matter how high profile you may be or may not be, it’s what you do on a daily basis. If you’re in a position, earn it. Earn it every day,” Judge said. “And I appreciate the opportunity, I’m working every day to earn it.
“And our players have to do the same thing. The best players will play. I don’t care where you got drafted, I don’t care if you’re an undrafted free agent, I don’t care if you’re old, young, traded, whatever you got there for.
“Everybody will have an opportunity every day to compete for a job on our roster. Every day.”
Judge made one thing very
Brooks-James, QB Jake Browning, WR Davion Davis, TE Brandon Dillon and CBs Mark Fields, Kemon Hall and Marcus Sayles to reserve/future contracts. New England Patriots – Jan. 7: Signed DL Tashawn Bower to a future contract.
New York Giants – Jan. 8: Named Joe Judge coach. Oakland Raiders – Jan. 7: Signed CB Dylan Mabin to a reserve/future contract. Jan. 9: Signed G/T Denzelle Good to a one-year contract extension. Philadelphia Eagles – Jan. 7: Signed TE Alex Ellis, DT Albert Huggins, QB Kyle Lauletta, C Keegan Render, CB Tremon Smith and WRs River Cracraft, Marcus Green and Marken Michel to reserve/future contracts. Jan. 9: Fired offensive coordinator Mike Groh and wide clear early in his news conference:
He won’t be the offensive coordinator.
He won’t be the defensive coordinator.
He won’t be the special teams coordinator, either.
He’s going to be the head coach and responsible for all three phases.
“I’m not going to be the offensive coordinator, the defensive coordinator or the special teams coordinator. I’ll work with all three sides of the ball,” Judge said. “But the primary focus I’m going to have as the head coach is I’m going to make sure we are fundamentally sound, we are situationally aware, and that we play with a relentless effort.”
As far as any questions about the Giants’ culture, Judge added: “The only culture we’re gonna have in that building, period, is a winning culture.”
Judge, 38, was previously the Patriots’ special teams coordinator and wide receiver coach and has been a part of five championship teams with the Patriots and the Alabama Crimson Tide. He has been on New England’s staff the last eight seasons.
New York is replacing fired former coach Pat Shurmur, who went just 9-23 in two seasons. receivers coach Carson Walch. San Francisco 49ers – Jan. 10: Activated LB Kwon Alexander from IR. Placed DL Kentavius Street on IR.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jan. 7: Signed OLB Quinton Bell, C Anthony Fabiano, S Deiondre’ Hall, DL Jeremiah Ledbetter, TE Jordan Leggett, CB Herb Miller, OT Brad Seaton and RB Aca’Cedric Ware to reserve/future contracts. Washington Redskins – Jan. 7: Named Dr. Kevin Wilk medical consultant. Jan. 9: Announced they have mutually parted ways with senior vice president of football operations and general counsel Eric Schaffer. Named Rob Rogers senior vice president of football administration.