Part of the reason heard through the grapevine on why New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels wasn't the “right fit” for the Cleveland Browns' head-coach vacancy was a potential clash with ownership and the front office. Implicitly, that meant new Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, the now-former Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator, was willing to cooperate with Cleveland's management structure.

Stefanski, 37, is reportedly willing to give broad access to the Browns' chief strategist Paul DePodesta, including feeding his analytics team in the coach's headset and speaking to team owner Jimmy Haslam for “hours” the next day after a game, per Steve Doerschuk in CantonRep.com.

Stefanski was apparently the runner-up to Freddie Kitchens in last year's head-coach search. The Browns were the last team in the NFL to fill their opening at head coach (again) and even though McDaniels looked like a top candidate among several vacancies, teams decided to go in a different direction, like the New York Giants hiring his colleague in Joe Judge, New England's wide receivers coach.

Article Continues Below
More Cleveland Browns News
One mystery player in the middle, Jerry Jeudy and Myles Garrett around him, Cleveland Browns logo in the background
Rising Cleveland Browns rookie turning heads in 2025 OTAsEnzo Flojo ·
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) participates in position drills during an NFL practice at the Cleveland Browns training facility
Browns’ Shedeur Sanders surprised by Joe Flacco’s admission during OTAsAlex House ·
Tommy Rees speaks to reporters during his introductory news conference as Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator.
New Browns OC makes declaration on heated QB competitionJaren Kawada ·
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) throws during NFL rookie minicamp at the Cleveland Browns training facility on Friday, May 9, 2025, in Berea, Ohio. Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Shedeur Sanders doesn’t get any 1st-team reps at OTAsMike Gianakos ·
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) warms up on the field prior to the game against the New York Giants at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
NFL rumors: Falcons insider picks Browns Kirk Cousins trade idea over SteelersZachary Weinberger ·
Featured image Deion Sanders Shedeur Sanders
Deion Sanders ‘hurt’ by negative Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ draft perceptionDylan Fine ·

The Dallas Cowboys, meanwhile, after dismissing longtime head coach Jason Garrett—whose contract expired in 2020—went all-in on former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy as their new leader.

DePodesta was a long-tenured executive working in baseball until Haslam and the Browns hired him as a strategist in 2016.

The analytics-forward consultant apparently has a strong will to impose his direction for the franchise on the coaching hire, which may explain why McDaniels was disinterested but Stefanski was O.K. with his influence alongside hands-on owner Haslam.