Dillon Gabriel has been the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns since the benching of veteran quarterback Joe Flacco. Unfortunately for the Browns and Gabriel, the young quarterback has struggled immensely since assuming the starting role.
On Sunday, the Browns and Gabriel lost to the New York Jets, despite the Jets struggling to get anything at all going on offense themselves throughout the game. Afterwards, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanksi still backed Gabriel as the team’s starting quarterback.
“We’re going to stick with Dillon (Gabriel)” as starting quarterback,” Stefanski said, per ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi.
“I think with young quarterbacks, it’s an understanding that there’s gonna be ups and downs. Can Dillon play better? Yes, he can. Can we play better around him? Yes, we can. Can we coach him better?
“Yes, we can. So, I understand the question, but I just trust that our young players at every position, and certainly at the quarterback position, are guys that are gonna work their tails off to get better every single day.”
As much as Stefanski may want to stick with Gabriel, team owner Jimmy Haslam has made it clear that he expects the team’s other rookie quarterback, Shedeur Sanders to take the field eventually, according to Oyefusi.
“Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said, ‘I don’t think it’s fair to speculate’ on a timetable to play rookie QB Shedeur Sanders with eight games remaining. Owner Jimmy Haslam has said it’s ‘absolutely’ important to evaluate both Sanders and Dillon Gabriel on the field ahead of the 2026 NFL draft, when Cleveland holds two first-round picks.”
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said, “I don’t think it’s fair to speculate” on a timetable to play rookie QB Shedeur Sanders with eight games remaining.
Owner Jimmy Haslam has said it’s “absolutely” important to evaluate both Sanders and Dillon Gabriel on the field ahead of the…
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) November 10, 2025
Fans reacted to the shocking news on social media.
“It is unfathomable that this team still has 8 games remaining. Horrifying,” one Browns’ fan wrote on Twitter.
“I have no idea what Kevin Stefanski is doing. He’s either intentionally tanking, or trying to get fired. Any other explanation makes no sense to me at all. I mean, look at this,” someone else added.
“He’s trying to somehow prove that DG doesn’t suck because he was the one who wanted to draft him,” one fan wrote of Stefanski.
It’ll be interesting to see when Haslam gets his way and Sanders takes the field for Cleveland.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.