CLEVELAND, OH – NOVEMBER 10: Head coach Freddie Kitchens of the Cleveland Browns calls a play during the first quarter of the game against the Buffalo Bills at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 10, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
Facing the rival Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night, Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens has some history to buck.
Just a few weeks ago, this Thursday night’s game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns didn’t look all that interesting beyond any cache of a rivalry game. But the Steelers are in the playoff picture at 5-4, and for the 3-6 Browns the game’s result will be a referendum on the job security of head coach Freddie Kitchens.
The Browns had very high expectations entering the season, but it really hasn’t been too surprising they’ve fallen short. Kitchens had never been a full-time NFL coordinator before, let alone a head coach, and he has appeared to be in way over his head so far this season. Barring a turnaround over the rest of the season, as the schedule gets easier, Kitchens is all but sure to be one-and-done as Browns’ head coach.
But based on some very specific recent history, apart from Cleveland’s ongoing failure to find the right head coach and the Steelers’ general ownership of them in the rivalry, Kitchens should probably be extra nervous if the Browns lose on Thursday night.
Excluding Gregg Williams, last year’s interim head coach after Hue Jackson was fired, the last six Browns’ head coaches have been fired after a loss to the Steelers. To be fair, the others (besides Jackson) were Week 17 losses and a firing followed. But still, it’s some history Kitchens has going against him.
It’s hard to confidently say a loss to the Steelers Thursday night, unless it’s an especially bad loss perhaps, will lead to Kitchens being fired first thing Friday morning. But since the Browns will travel to Pittsburgh for Week 13, there will be a second chance this season for Kitchens to be fired after a loss to the Steelers.