Here’s a hard truth for Cleveland Browns fans: the team’s struggles over the past two seasons can’t be pinned solely on head coach Kevin Stefanski. While his departure seems inevitable, it’s time to shine a spotlight on General Manager Andrew Berry’s role in this downward spiral. Yes, Stefanski’s win-loss record hasn’t been stellar, but Berry’s decisions have quietly contributed to the team’s woes, and it’s time to ask: Is he really the untouchable figure he’s being portrayed as?
Let’s start with the elephant in the room: the Deshaun Watson trade. While the Haslams may have shielded Berry from direct blame, his fingerprints are all over this disastrous deal. The Browns went all-in, mortgaging their future for a quarterback who barely made an impact, resulting in just one playoff appearance—a loss. And this is the part most people miss: Berry has now had three chances to replace Baker Mayfield, and each attempt has left the team’s quarterback room in disarray. Last offseason, he gambled on an aging, injury-prone offensive line and unproven wide receivers, a move that backfired spectacularly. The result? A quarterback room filled with players who would be backups elsewhere, like Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco, who indeed ended up as backups on other teams.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Berry’s tenure isn’t all failures. His 2025 draft was solid, and acquisitions like Amari Cooper and Tyson Campbell were clear wins. Yet, over the past two seasons, he’s struggled to build a roster capable of competing, particularly at quarterback. Relying too heavily on unproven players like Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Dillon Gabriel as backups, while banking on the development of his own draft picks with mixed results, has left the team in a precarious position. Add to that the cap constraints tied to Watson’s contract and other high-risk decisions, and it’s clear Berry’s vision hasn’t panned out as hoped.
And this is the part most people miss: firing Stefanski while keeping Berry feels like a half-measure. The two have been inseparable since 2020, sharing both successes and failures. If a new coach comes in and deems the roster inadequate—a real possibility—Berry’s job could be next on the chopping block. After all, time ran out on Stefanski’s attempts to fix the team through coordinator changes and play-calling adjustments; the same clock is ticking for Berry.
So, here’s the question for Browns fans: Can Berry truly dig the team out of the hole he helped create, or is he part of the problem that needs addressing? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments—agree or disagree, this conversation is far from over.
