Kevin Stefanski drew sharp criticism for a risky fourth-down playcall that backfired against San Francisco. The Cleveland Browns head coach called a direct snap to tight end Harold Fannin Jr., resulting in a fumble that highlighted his lack of trust in rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Kevin Stefanski Blasted for Fourth-Down Fumble Play
Browns analyst Tony Rizzo blasted head coach Stefanski on social media following the game. Rizzo used the phrase “coaching malpractice” to describe Stefanski’s handling of crucial situations against the 49ers.
Stefanski called a direct snap run to rookie tight end Fannin Jr. on fourth-and-one at the Browns’ own 32-yard line with 7:09 left in the third quarter. Instead of letting Sanders handle the play, the two-time Coach of the Year gave the ball directly to Fannin. The rookie tight end dropped the snap and fumbled.
Coaching malpractice. #Dawgpound
— Tony Rizzo (@TheRealTRizzo) November 30, 2025
The botched play exemplified Cleveland’s offensive struggles. Fannin Jr. had caught a 34-yard touchdown from Sanders earlier in the game, showing their chemistry. But Stefanski chose not to trust his rookie quarterback in the high-pressure fourth-down situation.
Harnold Fannin Jr fumbled the snap on their own 30 yard line.
Just let Shedeur Sanders do things 🤔 pic.twitter.com/gbPJgFk4X3
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) November 30, 2025
Sanders completed 16-of-25 passes for 149 yards and one touchdown against San Francisco. Running back Quinshon Judkins carried 23 times for 91 yards. Fannin Jr. finished with three receptions for 43 yards and a score before his fumble.
Skip Bayless Compares Stefanski’s Approach to Kyle Shanahan
Sports analyst Skip Bayless criticized Stefanski’s approach on social media. Bayless highlighted how San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan let quarterback Brock Purdy fake and keep the ball on third-and-goal for a touchdown. In contrast, Stefanski wouldn’t even let Sanders play quarterback in similar situations.
Shanahan lets Purdy fake and keep on 3rd and goal for the TD. Stefanski won’t even let Shedeur play QB in these situations.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) November 30, 2025
Purdy scored on a two-yard rushing touchdown with 1:29 left in the third quarter, giving San Francisco a 17-8 lead. He pulled the ball on a read-option run and walked into the end zone untouched. The play showcased Shanahan’s trust in his quarterback to make the right decision.
The contrast between the two coaches became clear. Shanahan trusted Purdy to execute in the red zone, while Stefanski gave the ball to Fannin on a direct snap rather than letting Sanders run the offense on fourth down.
The Cleveland Browns have the 32nd-ranked offense in PFSN’s Offense Impact metric, earning an F grade and a 52.5 score. That bottom-tier production has forced Stefanski into difficult decisions all season. The Browns entered Week 13 averaging 17 points per game, ranking among the league’s worst offenses.
San Francisco extended its lead to 26-8 by the final whistle. Stefanski’s offensive decision-making will face continued scrutiny as the Browns sit at 3-9 and last in the AFC North with their playoff hopes gone.