Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders wasted no time looking ahead after the news of head coach Kevin Stefanski’s firing Monday.
During his end-of-season press conference, which took place one day after a 20-18 win over the Bengals on Sunday, Sanders was all business, explaining that he’s focused on Cleveland’s next head coach.
“We just found out a couple seconds ago,” Sanders said when asked about his reaction to the news. “I think it’s just overall the mentality, things are gonna happen, that’s just how the league is.
“And moving forward, just focus on what we can improve on individually for the next head coach.”
The Browns fired Stefanski after a 5-12 finish this season and six years at the helm — during which he led Cleveland to two playoff appearances and was named the AP NFL Coach of the Year twice.
Sanders — whom the Browns selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft last April — was under a microscope this season and often at the center of debates regarding his playing style, attitude and his relationship with Stefanski.
After Sunday’s regular-season finale, Sanders explained that he and Stefanski “grew to understand each other” this season.
“We would share different things that we would both go through,” Sanders told reporters. “I know he wanted this win, and I know he wants every win, but I know that this one means a lot.
“I wish we all played as a team, and I wish we could have done more personally within this last year.”
In his rookie campaign, Sanders went 3-4 in seven starts, finishing 120-of-212 for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions, with a passer rating of 68.1.
He went 11-of-22 for 111 yards with a lost fumble in Sunday’s win over Cincinnati.
“I think I did what I was able to do and I definitely grew from a lot of things,” Sanders said when asked if he thinks he’s proved to general manager Andrew Berry that he should be the starter in 2026.
“I got experience now so, I’m always there, same confidence-wise, I’m there. But that’s not in my hands. That’s not my decision I can’t speak on what other people feel.”
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam was non-committal about Sanders’s future in Cleveland in his Monday press conference.
“I’m not going to get into specifics. We have a lot of work to do on the roster, particularly on the offense side,” Haslam said.
The Colorado product showed flashes of arm strength and clean mechanics in his debut season.
As for his offseason plans, Sanders told reporters: “Be with the family, then get back to work. Connecting with the guys earlier. … Just overall getting better, looking at everything that happened this year, what transpired, and going into next year with a fresh mind.”
