The Browns aren't wasting any time following a disappointing 7-10 season, one that started with playoff aspirations and ended at the bottom of the AFC North. Just hours after a 28-14 loss to Pittsburgh, Cleveland fired Joe Woods, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Woods has been the Browns' defensive coordinator since 2020, the only defensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski has had in his tenure.
Cleveland finished 22nd in the NFL in DVOA, 29th in rush DVOA, per Football Outsiders. Despite the presence of individual talent, such as DE Myles Garrett, CB Denzel Ward and S John Johnson III, the Browns have been middling at best defensively since their last playoff appearance in 2020.