The 2025 Cleveland Browns season concluded not with a playoff berth, but with a moment of franchise history and a thrilling divisional win. On January 4, 2026, in a 20-18 road victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, defensive end Myles Garrett secured a sack to break the Browns’ single-season record, cementing his legacy as one of the most dominant defenders in team history. The game was won as time expired by kicker Andre Szmyt, who drilled a 49-yard field goal to send the team into the offseason on a high note.
With the season concluded, the focus immediately shifted to building the 2026 roster. The most tangible transactions of the past three weeks have been the signing of players to reserve/futures contracts. These agreements secure rights to players for the upcoming offseason program and training camp, allowing the team to develop depth from within. The most recent signings came on January 9, when punter Nik Constantinou and wide receiver Isaiah Wooden were added to the fold.
They joined a group of six practice squad players who were signed to futures deals on January 5: tight end Sal Cannella, guard Jack Conley, receiver Luke Floriea, running back Ahmani Marshall, tackle Tyre Phillips, and tight end Caden Prieskorn. These signings represent the first layer of the 90-man offseason roster, emphasizing the development of young talent who have been in the building.
The victory in Week 18 also provided a final snapshot of the team’s health. The last official injury report listed 19 players, including tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (groin) and linebacker Carson Schwesinger (thigh) as out for the finale. With no games currently on the schedule, public injury reports are dormant, and players are engaged in individualized rehabilitation and strength programs.
As the front office concurrently runs a head coach search and prepares for the draft, this foundational work of retaining developmental talent is crucial. The players signed to futures deals will compete for roles when the team reconvenes under its new leadership, hoping to follow in the footsteps of past contributors who emerged from similar offseason signings to make the regular-season roster. The grind of the 2026 season has already begun in the shadows of the record-setting finish to 2025.