Kevin Stefanski did a magnificent job in his first year as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, leading them to their first playoff win in 25 years. In doing so, Stefanski was awarded the 2020 AP NFL Coach of the Year, the NFL announced during the NFL Honors award ceremony on Saturday night.

Stefanski won the award by receiving half of the 50-vote count. Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott came in at no. 2 with seven votes, while Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores came in third with six votes.

In his first year as the Browns coach, they tallied an 11-5 campaign, their most successful season since 1994. Stefanski was the mastermind of the Cleveland offense that helped blossom quarterback Baker Mayfield's game in his third NFL season. Featuring two rugged running backs in Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, the Browns turned into a gritty and physical squad that barged into the playoffs for the first time since 2002. They did this despite missing star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who went down with an ACL injury, and a four-game absence from Chubb at one point during the season.

Under Stefanski's watch, the Browns tallied the third most rushing yards in the league this season. This squad also recorded its second highest point total in a season in the history of the franchise.

RECOMMENDED (Article Continues Below)

Despite leading Cleveland back into the postseason, Stefanski, however, did not get the opportunity to coach the team in their Wild Card playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He tested positive for the coronavirus during the week leading up to their big playoff contest. Nevertheless, the Browns did their first year coach proud by upsetting the higher-seeded Steelers, 48–37.

Unfortunately, the Browns ran into the defending Super Bowl champs, the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional game and bowed out of the 2020 playoffs, 22-17.