Kevin Stefanski is the Cleveland Browns’ 10th head coach since the franchise returned to the NFL in 1999 after a three-year hiatus. On Thursday night, Stefanksi became the first Browns coach in that span to defeat the Steelers three times.
In 2020, his first season as head coach of the Browns, Stefanski’s team beat the Steelers in the final game of the regular season to clinch a playoff berth. They then defeated Pittsburgh in the wildcard round of the playoffs, marking the franchise’s first playoff victory in 26 years. Stefanski received credit for the win while at home after testing positive for COVID-19 (special teams coach Mike Priefer served as interim head coach for that game).
Stefanski scored the hat trick in the Browns’ 29-17 win over the Steelers on Thursday night. He did so by calling plays for an offense that ran the ball 38 times and threw it 31 times. Jacoby Brissett had a big first half and finished the night with 220 yards and two touchdowns. His biggest completion, a 32-yard completion to Amari Cooper on third and playoff play action, set up Nick Chubb’s 1-yard touchdown run that extended Cleveland’s lead to 23-14.
Speaking of Chubb, the Browns running back forced his will on the Steelers defense, rushing for 113 yards on 23 carries. Kareem Hunt contributed 47 additional rushing yards as the Browns produced 171 yards on 38 carries.
However, it was Stefanski’s defense that took control of the game in the second half. The unit, which played without several key plays throughout the game, forced five straight punts in the second half and helped Pittsburgh to just 1 of 9 for the game on third down. The Steelers offense scored just three points in the second half after taking a 14-13 halftime lead.
With the win, the Browns improved to 2-1 this season. Stefanski evened his record at 3-3 against the Steelers, a team that had dominated the rivalry for the previous three decades.