The Browns on Thursday will interview Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski for the team's head coach opening.
Stefanski, who has guided a balanced Vikings offense into an NFC Divisional Playoff matchup with the 49ers, is the seventh candidate to interview. Former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman, Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh interviewed last week. Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll interviewed Monday and Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz interviewed Wednesday.
Stefanski, 37, interviewed twice with the Browns for their head coach opening last year. He's the first repeat candidate from last year's search to be interviewed this year.
Now in his 14th season with the Vikings, Stefanski, who has worked under three different head coaches, is the longest tenured coach in Minnesota. He was elevated from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator in Week 15 of the 2018 season and promptly guided the unit to two of its best showings of the season. In his first full season as coordinator, Stefanski led a unit that ranked eighth in the NFL in scoring offense (25.4 points per game) and sixth in rushing offense (133.3 yards per game). Quarterback Kirk Cousins finished the regular season with the fourth-best passer rating among the league's starters (107.4) and threw 26 touchdowns to just six interceptions.
A defensive back at Penn, Stefanski joined the Vikings in 2006 after serving as an operations intern with the Eagles. He was an assistant to head coach Brad Childress from 2006-08 before taking over as assistant quarterbacks coach, a role he'd hold for four seasons.
Stefanski gained valuable experience with other position groups on the offensive side of the ball, working with the team's tight ends from 2014-15 and the running backs in 2016 before assuming the role as quarterbacks coach in 2017.
Bio Blast
Kevin Stefanski - Vikings offensive coordinator
Age: 37
Hometown: Wayne, Pennsylvania
College: Penn
NFL Experience: 14 years
