TE David Njoku of the Browns speaks out about his feud with Kevin Stefanski
It’s no secret that David Njoku, the tight end selected by the Cleveland Browns with the 29th overall choice in the 2017 NFL Draft, hasn’t always been content with his team.
Additionally, he hasn’t always agreed with head coach Kevin Stefanski; he recently talked about their tumultuous past on an edition of Up & Adams with host Kay Adams.
In 2020, Njoku, who was then in his fourth year of play, asked for a trade. He claims that since Stefanski first started working with him, their relationship has been “night and day.”
In his farewell interview in the days after the Browns’ 45-14 loss to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round, Njoku said that he and Stefanski’s bond was so strong that they could even joke about the request.
David Njoku says that his bond with Kevin Stefanski was strengthened by his trade request.
The New Jersey native was granted a fourth head coach in 2020 after playing for three different coaches during his first three seasons on the field. Stefanski absolutely turned the squad around, leading the Browns to an 11-5 record and their first postseason appearance in 18 years.
Njoku, however, did not play a major role in the team’s success since, prior to the season, Cleveland acquired tight end Austin Hooper, a two-time Pro Bowler, to a four-year, $42 million contract. Additionally, Cleveland drafted Harrison Bryant in the fourth round of the 2020 draft.
After missing three months of action due to a fractured wrist, Njoku only played in four games in 2019; in 2020, he only caught 19 receptions for 213 yards. Njoku requested a trade, but it was never approved.
Speaking with Adams, the 27-year-old discussed their first season together and how their early hostility may have contributed to their current status.
“I was trying to leave during his first year, which was just chaos and a lot of dramatic stuff that wasn’t really necessary at the time,” Njoku remarked. However, I believed that in order for our relationship to become as strong as it is now, it was imperative that it take place. It resembles a 180.
“How crazy this whole thing transpired was the first thing we talked about when I had an exit meeting with him a few days ago.”
Njoku states that he and Stefanski are still working on projects.
Despite Njoku’s wish to stay away from Cleveland, Stefanski increased his playing time and started him in 11 of 16 games in 2021, which produced the Miami product’s greatest season in three years and ultimately resulted in Hooper’s release.
While using the franchise tag in 2022, Njoku once again showed growth, which led to a four-year/$56.75 million contract extension. And he had his finest season to date last year, leading all tight ends in yards after catch (599) and setting career highs in receptions (81), yardage (882), and touchdowns (6). This performance earned him a spot in the Pro Bowl for the first time.
