Stephen Vogt has earned respect from plenty of people around this Cleveland organization over the past three years. This week, praise came from a source with a very different kind of Cleveland sports pedigree.
Vogt just guided the Guardians to their third consecutive postseason berth, clinching the trip to October with a 1-0 win over the Red Sox before the team went on to survive a wild come from behind win over the Royals. That stretch of sustained success has not gone unnoticed across the city, and former Browns great Hanford Dixon made sure to weigh in on what Vogt has built during an appearance on BIGPLAY Cleveland.
“All the accolades and everything that you just said about him, especially the three straight years of getting this team to the playoffs and you could just tell by watching some of the guys how much they respect him. He’s what I call a player’s coach, but then again, he’s also a guy that’s no-nonsense,” Dixon said.
“You could just tell by watching some of the guys how much they respect him. He’s what I call a players coach.”@HanfordDixon29 has HIGH praise for Stephen Vogt. #GuardsBallhttps://t.co/iiZ156FQZa pic.twitter.com/iwbdtIiUxP
— BIGPLAY Cleveland (@BIGPLAYcle) September 25, 2026
Dixon described Vogt as someone who blends genuine care for his players with a no-nonsense approach when it matters, a combination he suggested is not always easy to find in a head coach or manager at the professional level.
Dixon, a two-time All-Pro cornerback and one of the most recognizable figures in Browns history as the original architect of the Dawg Pound, has spent decades around this city’s sports scene and has seen plenty of coaches and managers come through Cleveland. Having someone with that background single out Vogt’s leadership style says something about how far his reputation has traveled beyond just the Guardians clubhouse.
Vogt’s track record backs up the praise. In just three seasons at the helm, he has already become just the seventh manager in MLB history to reach the playoffs in each of his first three years running a team, joining a list that includes names like Dave Roberts and Ralph Houk.
With Cleveland still fighting for a division title over the final days of the regular season, testimonials like Dixon’s serve as a reminder of just how much Vogt has changed the outlook of this franchise since taking over. Three years in, his reputation has clearly grown well beyond the walls of the Guardians clubhouse.
NEXT: Guardians Beat Royals In Slugfest, Stay Atop AL Central
