When the Browns entered the 2025 season, Berry said they knew the state of the roster and how it featured a number of young and rookie players at multiple positions. They had held a four-man quarterback competition during training camp to evaluate their quarterback room and find their starter before transitioning to the rookie quarterbacks during the season.
He noted how those factors were a part of their overall evaluation of where the Browns stood at the end of 2025.
“Coming into this season, we were realistic that we were a team and a roster in transition,” Berry said. “And ultimately this decision is born from the fact that we ultimately felt like we did not see enough progress in areas that were controllable – independent of certain game outcomes. Everything that we do is with the idea of bringing a perennial winner to Cleveland and this decision falls in that bucket as well. There are many tough decisions that we have made that we’ll have to continue to make in order to fulfill that promise.”
Berry will lead the search for a new head coach but explained he will also use the expertise across football operations in the hiring process. Managing and Principal Partner Jimmy Haslam added other key members of the organization and ownership will be involved in the process of finding a new head coach.
As the Browns begin their search for a new head coach, Berry said they will stay open-minded on the idea of previous head coaching experience being an important factor. He added their responsibility is to look “far and wide,” and are entering the process with no preconceived notions of what their next head coach should look like. However, there are specific skill sets in which Berry does look for in a head coach, given where the Browns are in their build as a team.
“It’s not just leadership by position, but I’d say leadership more globally,” Berry said. “Because when you hire a head coach, it’s someone who has to be able to lead your players, lead your staff, lead the organization, lead through hardship and lead through crisis. And NFL years, they’re like dog years. They’re really difficult seasons. And that’ll be at the forefront because it’s first and foremost a leadership position. And then when I say partnership, head coach, GM relationship is a lot like a marriage. And you have to work side by side and fight back-to-back. And I think that’s really, really important because you have to be aligned in terms of how you’re positioning the team.”
