Shedeur Sanders finally earned the starting quarterback role after a challenging season marked by limited reps and constant uncertainty.
Along the way, many fans and analysts hammered head coach Kevin Stefanski, criticizing him for not giving Shedeur enough opportunities while also failing to credit him when progress showed. Then Black Monday hit, and Stefanski was fired, instantly sparking debate across the league.
Now Ryan Clark has entered the conversation, offering pointed insight into whether Shedeur’s handling and development played any role in Stefanski’s exit or if the situation runs much deeper than one quarterback’s rise.
Ryan Clark Opinion on Shedeur Sanders’ Role in Kevin Stefanski’s Firing
As speculation swirled after Black Monday, Clark made it clear the connection many fans were searching for simply was not there. “There’s clearly no connection between Kevin Stefanski and Shedeur Sanders,” said Ryan Clark.
“There wasn’t a relationship there that needed to be carried over to the next year,” he added. That statement alone reframed the conversation, pushing it away from quarterback politics and toward a deeper organizational issue.
Even while dismissing the Shedeur angle, Clark was careful to give Stefanski his flowers. He praised his understanding of leadership and pointed to past examples that show Stefanski’s ability to manage quarterbacks in difficult situations. “He understands leadership,” said Ryan.
Clark then highlighted Stefanski’s track record by saying, “What he was able to do with Baker Mayfield in 2020, what we saw once Deshaun Watson was injured and Joe Flacco was acquired in 2023. It’s gonna be about putting him in the right position. This is an organizational thing to me.”
Clark emphasized that the next steps depend heavily on continuity at the top. He added that if Andrew Berry remains in charge, “he has to pick the right head coach.” The stakes are even higher now because Shedeur has already shown enough to be viewed as the long-term answer.
Clark stressed that reality by stating, “The next head coach that you bring in will have to be on board with that decision.”
For Clark, this moment is bigger than one firing. “This isn’t just about replacing Kevin Stefanski, it’s about restructuring of this entire organization,” said Ryan. He then concluded that, “For decades, what we’ve seen out of this organization has been an underachievement at it’s finest.”
Ryan Clark’s remarks hinted that Shedeur Sanders’ future depends less on who got fired and more on whether the Browns finally get the big picture right.
Also Read: Browns GM Andrew Berry Gets Honest About Shedeur Sanders After Kevin Stefanski Gets Fired