Did Browns' Kevin Stefanski ever worry about losing job to Mike Vrabel?

Almost immediately after the Cleveland Browns hired former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel to serve as a consultant in March 2024, some wondered if Browns owner Jimmy Haslam viewed Vrabel as a future replacement for Kevin Stefanski.

Vrabel has now guided the New England Patriots to a 5-2 start in his first season as head coach. On Monday, Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand asked Stefanski if he ever felt uncomfortable or threatened by Vrabel's presence last year. 

Kevin Stefanski trusted Mike Vrabel despite job-security whispers

"Vrabes is a good friend," Stefanski responded. "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." 

Stefanski, a two-time Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year Award winner, was in charge of a Browns side that was coming off a playoff appearance when Vrabel began his stint with the AFC North club. Since then, however, Cleveland has gone 5-19 under Stefanski's watch. Some around the league thought he went into Sunday's home game against the lowly Miami Dolphins in danger of losing his job, but Cleveland then earned a 31-6 win to improve to 2-5. 

Mike Vrabel opens up about his Browns tenure

There's no indication Vrabel had any interest in becoming Cleveland's head coach before accepting the Patriots gig. A January report revealed that the Las Vegas Raiders "never requested an interview" with Vrabel after the 2024 regular season wrapped up because he allegedly told them he intended to accept the New England job. 

On Monday, Vrabel told reporters he "enjoyed working with" Stefanski and the rest of the Cleveland coaching staff in 2024. 

"I was trying to help the players," Vrabel said about his role with the Browns, per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "I was trying to help the young coaches. ...I tried to help with player development. But they have a great organization as far as the structure and everything. But I tried to be involved with the young coaches and with the young players, and help them in practice and help them develop." 

Vrabel's Patriots will enter Sunday's showdown at Gillette Stadium on a four-game winning streak. As of Tuesday morning, ESPN BET had New England as a 7.5-point home favorite over Cleveland.