"The AFC North is notorious for its high level of competition. Until this year, which saw both the Browns and Bengals fall victim to losing seasons, the division had a three-year streak with three out of four teams having a winning record. Joe Burrow's arrival in Cincinnati, Lamar Jackson's dominance in Baltimore, and Mike Tomlin's consistency in Pittsburgh have given the AFC North one heck of a run in the 2020s."
"2025, of course, hasn't been as kind to the North, and they now have three head coach openings as a result. Tomlin stepped down after a blowout Wild Card loss, despite winning the division title and finishing with a 19th-straight winning season; John Harbaugh was fired in Baltimore for failing to win the big one time and time again; Kevin Stefanski was let go after two poor seasons in a row."
The AFC North maintained intense competition through the early 2020s, with three of four teams posting winning records for three straight seasons. Joe Burrow's arrival in Cincinnati, Lamar Jackson's dominance in Baltimore, and Mike Tomlin's consistency in Pittsburgh drove the division's success. Cleveland recorded two successful seasons in the decade, and Kevin Stefanski won Coach of the Year in 2020 and 2023. The 2025 season produced downturns, producing three head-coaching vacancies after Tomlin stepped down following a Wild Card loss, John Harbaugh was fired, and Stefanski was dismissed after consecutive poor seasons. The Ravens emerged as a premier coaching destination with owner Steve Bisciotti signaling openness to varied candidates.
Read at Inside The Star
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