The Las Vegas Raiders and Miami Dolphins may be facing an uphill battle in their pursuit of former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Stefanski has already interviewed with six teams, including both the Raiders and Dolphins, but appears to have stronger ties to other organizations.
Pelissero suggests that the Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons, and Baltimore Ravens are the leading contenders for Stefanski, who has already demonstrated considerable success in his coaching career, including being named Coach of the Year twice. “My anticipation is that Stefanski is going to have second interviews with multiple teams, likely next week,” Pelissero noted, emphasizing the potential for those three teams to secure his services.
For the Raiders, this news is particularly disappointing given their struggles last season, where they finished with the worst offense in the league. With the possibility of focusing their future around a new quarterback, potentially Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, the prospect of bringing in Stefanski to help develop this talent was seen as an opportunity for growth. However, the Raiders’ history of coaching instability may deter Stefanski from accepting their offer, regardless of the attractive factors like having the No. 1 overall draft pick and ample cap space.
In Miami, the challenges are compounded by a complicated quarterback situation, primarily revolving around Tua Tagovailoa’s health and financial implications. The Dolphins’ defensive and offensive needs also require extensive work, making it unclear if one season under Stefanski would suffice to turn the team around.
While there’s always the possibility that circumstances may shift, as of now, the outlook for both the Raiders and Dolphins landing Stefanski seems bleak. As these teams evaluate their options moving forward, they will need to consider other avenues to improve their coaching staff and overall performance in the upcoming season.