The Cleveland Browns lost 23-16 to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. One of the biggest storylines coming from the loss was the fact that Shedeur Sanders saw playing time. Sanders entered the game in the third quarter after Dillon Gabriel suffered a concussion. Unfortunately, Sanders did not have a strong first outing. This led to Tony Rizzo of ESPN Cleveland having some pointed words for the coaching staff after the loss.
What Did Tony Rizzo Say About the Browns Coaching Staff’s Handling of Shedeur Sanders?
Following the game, Rizzo didn’t hold back.
“I’ll be the first one to admit it, yeah, the kid [Sanders] looked awful today. He looked terrible,” Rizzo said. “But whose fault is that? The guy is one play away, and you’re not prepping him.”
He continued, “How is that possible? I don’t know. What I think happened yesterday is… I think two things. Number one, Shedeur showed everybody he’s got a long way to go, a lot of work. He’s not going to get the work here in Cleveland. And number two, this coaching staff, goodbye.”
“The guy is one play away and you’re not prepping him? How is that possible?” – @TheRealTRizzo on Shedeur Sanders’ debut.
Do you think the Browns coaching staff had Sanders ready to play? https://t.co/TTHaq68f00 pic.twitter.com/FHB0FEzqBH
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) November 17, 2025
Rizzo’s opinion reflects that of many Browns fans. Sanders did not even have an average debut. The rookie completed 25% of his passes (4/16) for 47 yards and was sacked twice. While he added 16 rushing yards on three carries, Sanders also turned the ball over twice, one fumble and one interception.
Through ten games, the Browns have the worst offense in the NFL according to PFSN’s offensive impact metric, with a score of 52.7. Sanders’ poor performance yesterday clearly didn’t help matters.
Rizzo’s point about it being time for Cleveland to move away from this coaching staff is also correct. In six seasons with the Browns, Kevin Stefanski is 43-51. Moreover, he has failed to successfully develop any quarterback.
Baker Mayfield, who was the Browns’ No.1 overall pick in 2018, had a mediocre career in Cleveland and is now lighting up the league in Tampa Bay. He also facilitated the trade for Deshaun Watson, and that experiment failed. Believing Stefanski could develop not one but two quarterbacks this year and going forward was likely a stretch.
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In addition, the Browns have had three offensive coordinators since Stefanski became head coach: Alex Van Pelt, Ken Dorsey, and Tommy Rees. In that time, Stefanski has handed over play-calling duties at least twice. For a coach who is supposed to have a good offensive mind, that’s not a good track record.
In the end, Sanders’ debut exposed more than just a rookie’s inexperience. It highlighted the ongoing failures of a coaching staff that has struggled to prepare its quarterbacks and build a consistent offense. Whether the Browns make a change now or after the season, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to justify keeping Stefanski as the head coach.