Shedeur Sanders facing imminent replacement as Browns linked with $93m College Football Playoff coach
What will the Cleveland Browns look like in 2026?
Amid yet another disappointing season in Cleveland, a clear divide is forming between the Browns’ top decision-makers.
Both general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski began the year under scrutiny, but Berry’s strong return from the 2025 draft may have saved his job and helped stabilize his standing with ownership, something his colleague may not be able to rely on.
Owner Jimmy Haslam may decide it’s time to move on from Stefanski, who has been at the helm of the organization since 2020, but his time could be up as the season comes to an end.
If Cleveland does decide to move on from Stefanski, the search would almost certainly be about resetting the culture and aligning the quarterback plan with the next head coach, rather than simply replacing a play-caller.
Does that mean Sanders would lose the starting job? Not necessarily, but the Browns do have two first-round picks in this spring’s draft, leaving them a lot of room to work with.
ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Rizzo threw out a name he’d like to see on the Browns’ sideline next season, and right now, he’s the talk of the college football world.
“You know who I want to coach the Browns?” Rizzo asked.
“I’d take Curt Cignetti right now. What a culture changer. Here’s what you need for the next Browns coach. Number one, ass kicker. Passive Stefanski didn’t work.
“Number two, proven winner, done. Number three, culture changer. If that guy wins a national championship with Indiana, I’ll go to Indiana and pick his ass up.”
No one is doing a better coaching job right now, in either the NFL or college football, than Cignetti is doing.
Indiana is coming off a dominant 38-3 win over Alabama in the Rose Bowl and just two wins away from a national title.
In just two seasons in Bloomington, Cignetti has compiled a 25-2 record, led the Hoosiers to two playoff appearances and their first-ever Big Ten title, achieved the only two 10-win seasons in school history, notched wins over Ohio State, Alabama, and Oregon, and coached a Heisman Trophy winner in Fernando Mendoza.
The Indiana quarterback is one of the favorites to be the first player selected in the draft.
Cleveland Browns not a tempting option for Curt Cignetti
It is possible the Browns could part ways with Stefanski, hire Cignetti, and trade their two first-round picks for the No. 1 overall pick to draft Mendoza, reuniting him with his college coach.
It’s hard to say if crazier things have ever been done, because that is certainly quite bonkers and extremely unlikely.
Why would Cignetti leave Bloomington just after building a well-oiled machine that’s dominating the sport?
He probably won’t.
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After all, he did just sign an eight-year, $93 million contract extension back in October, running through 2033 and making him one of college football’s highest-paid coaches.
There’s also a scenario where the Browns don’t blow everything up, bring Stefanski back, and run it back with Sanders as the starting quarterback next season.
At this point, Sanders’ future feels fluid. If the Browns hire a coach willing to build around his skill set, he could have a chance to become the face of the franchise and grow alongside a new system.
If the next coach prefers a different quarterback profile or wants a clean slate, Sanders could quickly find himself competing for his job or being viewed as a short-term bridge rather than a cornerstone.
Whatever the future holds in Cleveland, it will be the talk of the offseason. Team Sanders will be following every move very closely.
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