Second thoughts: Why Kevin Stefanski never felt threatened by Mike Vrabel’s presence as a Browns consultant in 2024

Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.

Second thoughts on Browns 31, Dolphins 6 …

1. When the Browns recruited out-of-work Mike Vrabel to spend the 2024 season as a coaching and personnel consultant, Kevin Stefanski was coming off his second Associated Press coach-of-the-year season. Stefanski, in fact, was the first head coach of five in the ownership era of Jimmy Haslam to earn a contract extension. He and GM Andrew Berry, who also received a contract extension, were riding high. So there was no trepidation among the top two Browns football executives about bringing in a decorated head coach, himself a coach-of-the-year winner, with two AFC South division titles and three playoff appearances as coach of the Tennessee Titans. Vrabel, a native of Akron, and football star at Walsh Jesuit HS and Ohio State, would have been a perfect head coach candidate for the Browns – if they were looking for one. As it turned out, Stefanski suffered through a 3-14 season – his worst in five years as Browns coach -- while Vrabel earned accolades inside the building for his dedication in hands-on coaching of tight ends, linebackers and offensive linemen. I asked Stefanski why he never felt uncomfortable or threatened by Vrabel, who would have been a popular replacement if Haslam had made a coaching change after last season’s debacle. “Vrabes is a good friend,” Stefanski said. “Wanted him around the building as much as we could get him last year. He was excited to get back to work. But, yeah, I think … it’s just the friendship there, and somebody I trust.”

2. After the season, Vrabel was hired by Patriots owner Robert Kraft to repair his once-dynastic franchise following Tom Brady’s defection and years of bad drafting under Bill Belichick. In seven games, Vrabel has surpassed the Patriots’ four victories under overmatched Belichick-successor Jared Mayo in 2024 and has his team in first place in the AFC East with a 5-2 record. Stefanski takes his 2-5 team to Foxboro, MA, this weekend. Though a convincing win over a pathetic Miami team took some heat off Stefanski, the matchup against Vrabel will only intensify scrutiny on whether Haslam was derelict in letting Vrabel leave the Browns’ building without even a conversation about his interest in coaching the Browns. Vrabel confirmed to me at the NFL Combine in February that a conversation never took place. He added, “I would have listened.”

3. In Foxboro on Monday, Vrabel had nothing but positives to say about his year with the Browns. “I enjoyed that time,” Vrabel said. “I enjoyed the people there,  that organization. I enjoyed working with Kevin, the offensive staff, Tommy Rees and Chad [O'Shea]. I played with Bubba [Ventrone]. So, a lot of good young coaches. Jim Schwartz – I had a really good relationship with Schwartzy. They're playing really well. They're coming off a huge win. They’re a great defense, offense is physical, physical O-line. Running backs are doing a nice job.” Vrabel was asked about the emphasis the Browns place on analytics and whether it would influence him in building the Patriots organization. “That's certainly something that they believe strongly in,” he said. “We were getting involved with it in Tennessee, probably not to the extent that Cleveland has. We've added, and I feel like we all do. That can help us on a coaching level, and also help us as we look at personnel. So, we'll continue to try to enhance that department, that area and how they can help us looking at what we do internally, but also externally as we look at acquiring players. But probably won't get to that extent of where they're at right now overnight.”

4. For the first time playing with a two-score lead, Schwartz’s defense flourished. So many players had big games – safeties Grant Delpit, Rayshawn Jenkins and Ronnie Hickman; cornerback Tyson Cambpell; linebackers Carson Schwesinger and Devin Bush; defensive linemen Alex Wright, Mason Graham and, of course, Myles Garrett. Stefanski couldn’t single out one or two, so he gave the entire defense – and Schwartz – game balls.

5. But Campbell was the singular revelation of the defensive gem, which included four sacks, four turnovers, 219 total yards yielded, 1 of 13 third-down conversions, and 0 for 2 in the red zone. Campbell did not allow a reception targeted at him, saved two touchdowns running down running back De’Von Achane and breaking up a pass in the end zone for Jaylen Waddle, and scored his first career TD on an interception and 34-yard tight-rope return down the right sideline. At 6-1, 195, Campbell is among the team’s biggest cornerbacks, right there with Dom Jones and injured Martin Emerson. But his speed sets him apart. He pointed out he was a Florida high school track champion in the 100, 200 and 4x100 relay. “Talk about Tyson’s speed, but, man, he plays physical, too,” Stevanski said. “Just love how he throws his weight around, how he tackles. Yeah, I thought he was flying all over the field yesterday.”

6. Berry’s 2025 rookie class continues to shine, and his trade with Jacksonville for Campbell – essentially for cornerback Greg Newsome, whose contract is up after 2025 – cools more heat from his embattled position. Campbell had drawn criticism in Jacksonville for hamstring, quadricep and thigh injuries the past two seasons after receiving a four-year, $76.5 million extension prior to the 2024 season by the previous Jaguars regime. A coaching change in 2025 made Campbell’s press-corner skill-set less relevant, too. He said he was shocked by the trade. “It was just a whole wave of emotions, a disbelief, shock, a whole bunch,” Campbell said. “I felt numb at first, and it didn't really hit me until I was practicing the next day. So it was definitely a lot of wave of emotions.”

7. Remember when the dominant concern about the Browns was a kicking problem? Since Game 1, when he missed a field goal and PAT in a 17-16 loss to Cincinnati, Andre Szmyt is 9 of 10 on field goals and 10 of 10 on PATs.