In 2020, Kevin Stefanski took over a Cleveland Browns team with skyrocketing expectations.
The former Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator was asked to help lead the Browns to the playoffs in his first season as an NFL head coach.
He was able to help the Browns secure their first winning record since 2007.
Stefanski also ended the longest active playoff drought in the league by helping Cleveland make the postseason last season.
As a result, Stefanski was honored by being named the NFL Coach of the Year in 2020.
#Browns HC Kevin Stefanski wins the 2020 Coach of the Year award after leading Cleveland to the playoffs for the first time since 2002. What a time.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 7, 2021
There is a good chance that the second-year head coach might be able to take home the award once again.
Stefanski Keeps Winning
It won’t be an easy task for Stefanski to repeat as coach of the year.
He’ll surely be tested with a handful of new coaches taking over teams this offseason.
Plus, veteran coaches such as Bill Belichick, Andy Reid, and Mike Tomlin are always in the mix.
That being said, Stefanski currently holds the second-highest odds of winning coach of the year in 2021 according to betonline.ag.
As of right now, only new Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley has higher odds of taking home the award.
That is not shocking considering Staley has been put in a situation similar to what Stefanski had to deal with in Cleveland.
A first year head coach of a talented roster coming off a disappointing season with higher expectations this time around.
The two young coaches are currently listed as the two lead dogs to win coach of the year next season.
2021 NFL Coach of the Year Odds:
Brandon Staley: 10/1
Kevin Stefanski: 12/1Last coach to go back to back was Joe Gibbs in '82 and '83. #Browns
— Matt Fontana (@MattFontana83) May 26, 2021
Not far behind them are Sean McVay, Arthur Smith, and Brian Flores.
Honestly, the top seven or eight coaches are all fairly close together in odds.
However, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Stefanski take home the award again in 2021.
Can Stefanski Do It Again?
Obviously, it is going to be more difficult for Stefanski to win coach of the year this time around.
He was a rookie head coach who broke Cleveland’s playoff drought in 2020.
This time around, Stefanski is likely going to need to win the division if he wants to go for a repeat.
Everyone already knows Stefanski is capable of taking this roster to the playoffs.
Now it’s time for him to help lead the Browns to a division title.
It won’t be an easy task with Pittsburgh and Baltimore having strong rosters and Cincinnati is quickly on the rise.
Although, Cleveland has one of the best rosters in the league heading into the 2021 campaign.
The Browns claiming the AFC North title could very well mean another repeat for Stefanski.
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