He was building the team into a winner, and in fact the year before everyone found out the Browns were leaving (the story broke during the season) he had a record of 11-5 and went 1-1 in the playoffs that year and had an excellent defense.
He probably would have had a good year the next year but the team tanked and so did the staff when word got out that a move was coming. Even before it was official everyone knew it was happening.
I'm not trying to be a jerk to you about this. I've mentioned it before and sometimes feel the need to repeat myself. He was a good HC.
Same presser terse answers too, the media didn't love him. And model made him cut Kosar which didn't endear him to many fans because Bernie was a fan favorite unlike anyone not named Jim Brown or Otto Graham.