For Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, the clock is ticking. With the team sitting at a dismal 2-7 and his job security looking shakier by the week, a potential solution, rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, continues to watch from the sideline.
Now, a former Super Bowl champion is publicly calling out the coach, urging him to make a change that could define the rest of the season and Stefanski’s career in Cleveland.
Why Is a Former Star Urging Kevin Stefanski to Give Shedeur Sanders a Shot?
The pressure on Stefanski is mounting, as he has lost 21 of his past 26 games leading the Browns, which includes their 2-7 record entering Week 11 of the 2025 season. He began the year on the hot seat, and the team’s poor performance has only intensified the scrutiny on his decision-making.
During a recent episode of “Speakeasy,” former Super Bowl champion James Jones directly addressed the situation, offering the coach a clear suggestion. Jones urged Stefanski to give Sanders a chance at quarterback if he hopes to save his job.
“Put Shedeur Sanders out there. You keep on putting Dillon Gabriel out there and the offense does the same exact thing every single week. Nothing changes, he has one good quarter a week and he two good throws a game … If Shedeur goes out there, and he balls out and he plays lights out, you might not get fired in a couple of weeks. If you keep on throwing Dillon Gabriel out there, you’re going to get fired,” stated Jones.
James Jones is calling for Kevin Stefanski’s job!! Says his time in Cleveland HAS to be limited because he’s fumbling decision-making!
WE ARE LIVE RIGHT NOW IN THE SPEAKEASY TALKING 49ERS FUTURE WITH BROCK PURDY RETURNING! ➡️ https://t.co/XdaSZpIya6 pic.twitter.com/6CSfdHSqDd
— Speakeasy (@speakeasytlkshw) November 11, 2025
The calls for a change come as the current starter, Dillon Gabriel, has struggled significantly since taking over after the team traded Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals. The rookie quarterback currently ranks 37th out of 38 eligible players in PFSN’s Impact Rankings this year.
Following a disastrous loss to the New York Jets, the Browns’ 2-7 record has all but eliminated them from playoff contention. With the season slipping away, it is fair to wonder what Stefanski is waiting for, especially with another rookie quarterback on the roster who could potentially spark the offense.
The franchise invested heavily in the position during the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting two quarterbacks in a desperate search for a long-term answer.
While Gabriel may still develop, the team cannot know what it has in Sanders until he gets a chance to play in a real game. For Stefanski, the move presents a potential lifeline: if Sanders plays well, the coach’s hot seat might cool down. If not, he is in the same difficult position he would have been in anyway.