The 2025 season was the Cleveland Browns' 73rd as a member of the National Football League (NFL), their 77th overall, their sixth under general manager Andrew Berry, and their sixth and final under head coach Kevin Stefanski. The Browns improved on their 3âÂÂ14 record from the previous season. However, they clinched their second consecutive losing season with a Week 13 26-8 loss to the San Francisco 49ers and 16th in 18 years, and failed to qualify for the playoffs for the 2nd straight year with a Week 16 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Despite that, one of the few bright spots for the Browns was when Myles Garrett achieved a record-breaking 23 sacks in a single season, breaking records of 22.5 previously set by both Michael Strahan and T. J. Watt. Shedeur Sanders became the first Cleveland Brown quarterback to make a Pro Bowl since Derek Anderson did so in 2007.
On January 5, 2026, one day after the end of the season, Stefanski was fired by the Browns after six seasons with the team.
The Cleveland Browns drew an average home attendance of 67,431, the 19th-highest of all NFL teams.
On January 5, one day after the season ended, the Browns fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and offensive line coach Andy Dickerson, both after one season with the team.
On January 8, the Browns hired former Rice University head coach Mike Bloomgren as their new offensive line coach.
On January 14, the Browns promoted tight ends coach and passing game specialist Tommy Rees to offensive coordinator to replace Dorsey.
Draft trades
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Despite holding the Bengals to 2 net yards in the second half, the Browns lost the game and started the season at 0âÂÂ1.
The Browns traveled to Baltimore for a battle with the division rival Baltimore Ravens. This also marked the return to Baltimore for Browns quarterback Joe Flacco, who spent eleven seasons with the Ravens. Baltimore took a 10âÂÂ0 lead with a Tyler Loop field goal and a Lamar Jackson touchdown pass to Tylan Wallace. The Browns cut the lead to 10âÂÂ3 late in the first half on an Andre Smyzt field goal.
Baltimore scored the first ten points in the third quarter on another Loop field goal and a Jackson touchdown pass to Devontez Walker to extend their lead to 20âÂÂ3. The Browns made it 20âÂÂ10 on a Flacco touchdown pass to Cedric Tillman. The Ravens scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to take control of the game with a 41âÂÂ10 lead. The Browns scored on late touchdown pass from Dillon Gabriel to Dylan Sampson â the first career touchdown for each player â to make the final score 41âÂÂ17.
With the loss, the Browns fell to 0âÂÂ2.
The Browns returned home still in search of their first win, to take on the Green Bay Packers. Defense reigned on both sides throughout the first half as the only points were on a Brandon McManus field goal for Green Bay, who took a 3âÂÂ0 lead into halftime. Green Bay added a Jordan Love touchdown pass to John FitzPatrick in the third quarter to extend its lead to 10âÂÂ0.
Cleveland scored its first points of the game with under four minutes remaining on an Andre Szmyt field goal. Green Bay's next drive ended quickly when Grant Delpit intercepted a Love pass and returned it to the Green Bay 4-yard line. Two plays later, Quinshon Judkins scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 10âÂÂ10. Green Bay lined up for a go-ahead field goal with 27 seconds remaining, but McManus' kick was blocked by Shelby Harris. Cleveland promptly drove into field goal range, and Szmyt converted a 55-yard field goal as time expired to give the Browns a 13âÂÂ10 win.
With the win, the Browns improved to 1âÂÂ2 and ended an 8âÂÂgame losing streak which started in Week 13 of the previous season. Szmyt was named AFC Special Teams player of the week.
The Browns traveled to Detroit hoping to build upon their first win of the season. The Browns struck first on a Quinshon Judkins touchdown run to take a 7âÂÂ0 lead, but Detroit tied the game on their next drive on a Jahmyr Gibbs touchdown run. Detroit dominated the game from that point, taking advantage of three turnovers by Joe Flacco and returning a punt for a touchdown, en route to the dominating 34âÂÂ10 win. This was the Browns' final game with Joe Flacco as the team's starting quarterback; he left to go to the Bengals.
With the loss, the Browns fell to 1âÂÂ3.
The Browns traveled to London to face the Minnesota Vikings as part of the NFL International Series. Heading into the matchup, starting quarterback Joe Flacco was benched and second-string quarterback Dillon Gabriel was named the starter, the teamâÂÂs 41st starting quarterback since 1999. Gabriel passed for 190 yards and two touchdowns to give the Browns a 17âÂÂ14 lead late in the fourth quarter.
The Browns gained possession with 3:21 remaining in the game, but were unable to move the ball being forced to punt and only taking 16 seconds off the clock. Minnesota drove 80 yards in the final minutes, with quarterback Carson Wentz completing all 9 of his passes including the game-winning touchdown to Jordan Addison with 25 seconds remaining to make the final score 21âÂÂ17.
With the loss, Browns fell to 1âÂÂ4. Going back to last season, this was the tenth straight game in which the Browns scored 17 or fewer points, tying a franchise record previously set in 1975. The Browns also became the first team since the 2000âÂÂ2001 Arizona Cardinals to have such a streak.
Following the game, the Browns traded Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Browns returned stateside for a Week 6 trip to Pittsburgh against the rival Steelers. Defense dominated the first half as neither team found the end zone. Pittsburgh took a 9âÂÂ0 lead on a trio of Chris Boswell field goals, before Andre Szmyt connected on a field goal of his own to cut the Steelers' lead to 9âÂÂ3 at halftime.
Pittsburgh scored the game's first touchdown in the middle of the third quarter on an Aaron Rodgers pass to Connor Heyward to take a 16âÂÂ3 lead. Cleveland responded with a Szmyt field goal to make the score 16âÂÂ6. The fourth quarter saw another Rodgers touchdown pass, this time to DK Metcalf, and another Szmyt field goal, to make the final score 23âÂÂ9.
With the loss, the Browns fell to 1âÂÂ5. It marked the teamâÂÂs 22nd consecutive regular season loss in Pittsburgh. The Browns also set a franchise record 11th consecutive game scoring 17 or less points, surpassing the previous record set in 1975.
The Browns returned home on a rainy, windy afternoon to face the Miami Dolphins, hoping to end their losing streak at three games. After both teams kicked field goals early in the game, the Browns took a 10âÂÂ3 lead on a 46-yard touchdown run by Quinshon Judkins. Miami fumbled the ensuing kickoff, setting up Cleveland with a short field; the Browns scored on another Judkins touchdown run to make it 17âÂÂ3. A Riley Patterson field goal for Miami made the score 17âÂÂ6 at halftime.
On the first play of the second half, Tyson Campbell intercepted a Tua Tagovailoa pass and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown, making the score 24âÂÂ6. Judkins scored his third touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter, set up by a Rayshawn Jenkins interception returned to the Miami 2-yard line, extending the Browns' lead to 31âÂÂ6, which was the final score.
With the win, the Browns improved to 2âÂÂ5 and ended their streak of 11 consecutive games scoring 17 or fewer points. Grant Delpit was named AFC Special Teams Player of the week for his forced fumble on a kickoff, which set up a Browns touchdown drive.
With the loss, the Browns fell to 2âÂÂ6. This marked the Brownsâ sixth straight loss to the Patriots, dating back to 2013.
Despite the loss, Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett recorded a franchise-record and career-high 5 sacks, surpassing his previous mark of 4.5 sacks set against the Chicago Bears in 2021.
After the Browns scored a touchdown, Jets' running back Kene Nwangwu returned a kickoff 99 yards for a score. On the very next drive following a Browns punt, Jets' wide receiver Isaiah Williams returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown. Although the Browns attempted a comeback, a holding penalty and a neutral-zone infraction helped the Jets hold on for the win.
With the loss, the Browns fell to 2âÂÂ7.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders made his debut with 12:43 remaining in the third quarter after Dillon Gabriel exited with a concussion. However, he struggled, completing only 4-of-16 passes with an interception and finishing with a 13.5 passer rating. Although the Browns kept the game close throughout, Ravens tight end Mark Andrews ran 35 yards on a 4th-and-1 play for the go-ahead touchdown, securing the victory for Baltimore.
With the loss, the Browns fell to 2âÂÂ8.
The Browns named Shedeur Sanders as their starting quarterback.
The Browns' defense sacked Raiders quarterback Geno Smith ten times, while Sanders passed for 209 yards and a touchdown, including a 52-yard completion to Isaiah Bond in the first quarter, ending a 15-game drought without a 50-yard pass by a Cleveland quarterback.
With the win, the Browns improved 3âÂÂ8. Sanders ended a 17-game losing streak by Cleveland rookie quarterbacks making their first career start. Additionally, the Browns snapped a 13-game road losing streak, which had coincidentally started with loss to the Raiders in the 2024 season.
With the loss, the Browns fell to 3âÂÂ9 and they secured their 16th losing season in 18 years.
With the loss, combined with Pittsburgh's win over Baltimore, the Browns fell to 3âÂÂ10 and they were eliminated from playoff contention for the 16th time in 18 years.
With the loss, the Browns fell to 3âÂÂ11.
With the loss, the Browns fell to 3âÂÂ12.
Two days later, the Browns announced that running back Quinshon Judkins suffered a dislocated right ankle and a broken fibula late in the second quarter and would miss the remainder of the season.
With the upset win, the Browns improved to 4âÂÂ12. They finished 3âÂÂ6 at home.
Although the Browns entered as 9.5-point underdogs, Cleveland jumped out to a 14âÂÂ6 lead following early mistakes by Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. Burrow threw a 97-yard pick-six to Devin Bush Jr., then on the ensuing drive was sacked and fumbled, resulting in a 47-yard fumble return touchdown by Sam Webb. Although the Bengals rallied to take an 18âÂÂ17 lead with 1:29 remaining, Shedeur Sanders led a late drive that set up Andrew Szmyt for a 49-yard game-winning field goal. Szmyt, who had missed an extra point and a field goal in ClevelandâÂÂs 17âÂÂ16 loss to Cincinnati in Week 1, converted the kick to win the game as time expired. With the win, the Browns finished the season at 5âÂÂ12 and 2âÂÂ6 in away games.
Late in the fourth quarter, Myles Garrett sacked Joe Burrow for his 23rd sack of the season, setting the NFL single-season record and breaking the previous mark of 22.5 set by Michael Strahan in 2001 and T. J. Watt in 2021.
The following day, the Browns announced the firing of head coach Kevin Stefanski. Stefanski compiled a 45âÂÂ56 record over six seasons with Cleveland, leading the team to two playoff appearances and one playoff victory, while also winning NFL Coach of the Year twice.