List of Cleveland Browns head coaches
The
Jimmy Haslam III.[4]
There have been 18 non-interim
NFL Coach of the Year three times, the United Press International (UPI) NFL Coach of the Year once,[6] and was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a coach.[7] Five coaches have won Coach of the Year awards: Brown (1949, 1951, 1953, 1957), Forrest Gregg (1976), Sam Rutigliano (1979, 1980), Marty Schottenheimer (1986), and Kevin Stefanski (2020, 2023
).
Since their reactivation in 1999, the Browns have had significant turnover at the head coaching position. Ten men have coached the Browns since 1999, and only two have reached the postseason: Butch Davis (2002) and Stefanski (2020 and 2023).
Key
# | Number of coaches[N 1] |
GC | Games coached |
W | Wins |
L | Losses |
T | Ties |
Win% | Winning percentage |
† | Elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a coach |
‡ | Elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a player |
* | Spent entire NFL head coaching career with the Browns |
Coaches
- Note: Statistics are accurate through the 2023 season.
#[8] | Image | Name | Term[N 2] | Regular season | Playoffs | Achievements | Ref. | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GC | W | L | T | Win% | GC | W | L | Win% | ||||||
1 | Paul Brown † | 1946–1962 | 214 | 158 | 48 | 8 | .767 | 14 | 9 | 5 | .643 | Four 1955)[10] Seven NFL Conference championships (1950–55, 1957) |
[5][7] | |
2 | Blanton Collier* | 1963–1970 | 112 | 76 | 34 | 2 | .691 | 7 | 3 | 4 | .429 | NFL Champion in 1964 Four Eastern conference champions (1964, 1965, 1968, 1969) Three Century Division Champions (1967,1968, 1969) |
[12] | |
3 | Nick Skorich | 1971–1974 | 56 | 30 | 24 | 2 | .556 | 2 | 0 | 2 | .000 | AFC Central Division Champions 1971 | [13] | |
4 | Forrest Gregg ‡ | 1975–1977 | 41 | 18 | 23 | 0 | .439 | — | — | — | — | 1976 Associated Press (AP) NFL Coach of the Year[14] | [15] | |
– | Dick Modzelewski*[N 3] | 1977 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | [16] | ||
5 | Sam Rutigliano* | 1978–1984 | 97 | 47 | 50 | 0 | .485 | 2 | 0 | 2 | .000 | 1979 and 1980 UPI NFL Coach of the Year[6] AFC Central Division Champions 1980 |
[17] | |
6 | Marty Schottenheimer[N 4] | 1984–1988 | 71 | 44 | 27 | 0 | .620 | 6 | 2 | 4 | .333 | 1986 UPI NFL Coach of the Year[6] Three AFC Central Division Champions (1985, 1986 and 1987) |
[18] | |
7 | Bud Carson* | 1989–1990 | 25 | 11 | 13 | 1 | .458 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | AFC Central Division Champions 1989 | [19] | |
– | Jim Shofner*[N 5] | 1990 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 0 | .143 | — | — | — | — | [20] | ||
8 | Bill Belichick | 1991–1995 | 80 | 36 | 44 | 0 | .450 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | [21] | ||
— [N 6] | 1996–1998 | |||||||||||||
9 | Chris Palmer* | 1999–2000 | 32 | 5 | 27 | 0 | .156 | — | — | — | — | [22] | ||
10 | Butch Davis* | 2001–2004 | 59 | 24 | 35 | 0 | .407 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | [23] | ||
– | Terry Robiskie[N 7] | 2004 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | .200 | — | — | — | — | [24] | ||
11 | Romeo Crennel | 2005–2008 | 64 | 24 | 40 | 0 | .375 | — | — | — | — | [25] | ||
12 | Eric Mangini | 2009–2010 | 32 | 10 | 22 | 0 | .313 | — | — | — | — | [26] | ||
13 | Pat Shurmur | 2011–2012 | 32 | 9 | 23 | 0 | .281 | — | — | — | — | [27] | ||
14 | Rob Chudzinski* | 2013 | 16 | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | — | — | — | — | [28] | ||
15 | Mike Pettine* | 2014–2015 | 32 | 10 | 22 | 0 | .313 | — | — | — | — | [29] | ||
16 | Hue Jackson | 2016–2018 | 40 | 3 | 36 | 1 | .088 | — | — | — | — | [30] | ||
– | Gregg Williams[N 8] | 2018 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | .625 | — | — | — | — | [31] | ||
17 | Freddie Kitchens* | 2019 | 16 | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | — | — | — | — | [32] | ||
18 | Kevin Stefanski*[N 9] | 2020–present | 67 | 37 | 30 | 0 | .552 | 3 | 1 | 2 | .333 | 2020 and 2023 AP NFL Coach of the Year | [33][34] |
Footnotes
- ^ A running total of the number of coaches of the Browns. Thus, any coach who has two or more terms as head coach is only counted once. Interim coaches are not included.
- ^ Each year is linked to an article about that NFL season.
- ^ Gregg was fired thirteen games into the 1977 season. Modzelewski served as interim head coach for the remaining game.
- ^ Rutigliano was fired eight games into the 1984 season. Schottenheimer served as interim head coach for the remaining eight games before being promoted to full-time head coach.
- ^ Carson was fired nine games into the 1990 season. Shofner served as interim head coach for the remaining seven games.
- ^ The Browns did not play from 1996 to 1998 due to events in the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy.[3]
- ^ Davis resigned eleven games into the 2004 season. Robiskie served as interim head coach for the remaining five games.
- ^ Jackson was fired eight games into the 2018 season. Williams served as interim head coach for the remaining eight games.
- ^ During the 2020–21 NFL playoffs, Stefanski tested positive for COVID-19. Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer served as the acting head coach in the wild-card round against the Pittsburgh Steelers, winning the game. Stefanski tested positive during Week 15 of the 2021 season, with Priefer again serving as acting head coach against the Las Vegas Raiders, losing the game.
Notes
- General
- "History: All-Time Head Coaches". Cleveland Browns. NFL Enterprises LLC. Archived from the original on 2013-01-23. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- "Cleveland Browns Franchise Encyclopedia". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- Specific
- ^ "Year By Year Season Results". Cleveland Browns. NFL Enterprises LLC. Archived from the original on 2010-04-02. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ "Cleveland Browns Stadium". Cleveland Browns. NFL Enterprises LLC. Archived from the original on 2010-03-15. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ a b Henkel 2005, p. 111
- ^ "Cleveland Browns – Front Office". January 20, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ a b c d Hickok, Ralph (2008-04-17). "NFL Coach of the Year Award". Hick OK Sports. Archived from the original on December 5, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ a b "Paul Brown". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ Interim head coaches are not included in the numbering.
- ^ "Cleveland Browns". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ "History: NFL Champions". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ "NFL Coach of the Year". Sporting News. Archived from the original on 2009-02-17. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ "Blanton Collier". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ "Nick Skorich". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ "AP NFL Coach of the Year Winners". The Washington Post. 2005-01-08. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ "Forrest Gregg". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ "Dick Modzelewski". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ "Sam Rutigliano". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ "Marty Schottenheimer". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ "Bud Carson". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ "Jim Shofner". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ "Bill Belichick". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ "Chris Palmer". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ "Butch Davis". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ "Terry Robiskie". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ "Romeo Crennel". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ "Eric Mangini". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ "Pat Shurmur's Coaching Record". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
- abcnews.go.com. AP. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
- ^ "Mike Pettine Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
- ^ Cabot, Mary Kay (January 13, 2016). "Hue Jackson hired as Cleveland Browns' 8th head coach since 1999". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland.com. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
- ^ Laine, Jenna (October 29, 2018). "Browns fire head coach Hue Jackson, offensive coordinator Todd Haley". ESPN. espn.com. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
- ^ Patra, Kevin (January 9, 2019). "Browns promote Freddie Kitchens to head coach". NFL. nfl.com. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
- ^ Gordon, Grant (January 12, 2020). "Browns hire Kevin Stefanski as next head coach". NFL. nfl.com. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
- ^ "Kevin Stefanski Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
References
- Henkel, Frank M. (2005). Cleveland Browns History. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-3428-2.