Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski just recently moved to Cleveland, but he’s already found ways to connect with both his Browns players and his new community. Stefanski is connecting through the ongoing social justice protest movements that are omnipresent around the country and in Northeast Ohio.
Stefanski took his kids along to a peaceful protest over the weekend in Avon. It’s proof that the new coach is willing to do more than just pay lip service to the cares and concerns of his players. He talked about the impact being there with his young children had upon the Stefanski family.
“It was empowering. You saw the passion. You saw the frustration. You saw the love,” Stefanski said. “It was just a really enlightening moment for me, and I was able to share that with my boys at a young age. Part of this is making sure that we are doing everything in our power to educate each other — and especially the next generation.”
He took that message with him to players. Stefanski canceled all team activities on Tuesday in a nod to George Floyd’s funeral service.
“My big note to our players is that I got their back. That is not just lip service – I am standing right there beside them. They have my support, and I promise you that we will continue to listen to each other from a place of mutual respect.”
The Browns were at the forefront of the protest movement spearheaded by Colin Kaepernick. During a 2017 preseason game, a large group of players took a knee during the pregame rendition of the national anthem, including Seth DeValve–the first white player to take such action. It seems that spirit lives on and is encouraged by Stefanski.
