As acting head coach, Mike Priefer presided over the Browns' first postseason win on the road since 1969.
Surprise: Browns fire Mike Priefer as special teams coordinator
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Mike Priefer is out as Browns special teams coordinator, the team confirmed.
Although Priefer was under fire from fans and media much of the 2022 season, the move comes as a surprise this late into the offseason.
In his last press availability on January 5, Priefer spoke confidently of coming back in 2023 for a fifth season with the Browns and fourth under coach Kevin Stefanski.
“I love it here,” Priefer said. “I am under contract. I don’t plan on going anywhere else. I am from Cleveland. I want to help Cleveland win a world championship. That is why I am here, and that is my focus.”
Priefer rode a roller coaster the first two weeks of the season as the Browns edged the Carolina Panthers, 26-24, on a 58-yard field goal by rookie kicker Cade York with :08 to play in Game 1, and then blew a 30-17 lead to the New York Jets with 1:55 to play in Game 2, partially due to failing to cover an onside kick.
The inconsistencies continued all year. York wound up with the most overall misses among kickers. He had three field goals blocked, including a game-tying attempt in Baltimore, and also missed a PAT in the 31-30 loss to the Jets. The Browns also finished last in punt return coverage, allowing 12.3 yards a return.
There were some highlights, but not enough. For the first time since the NFL gave out weekly awards in 1984, the Browns had a kicker (York), returner (Donovan Peoples-Jones) and punter (Corey Bojorquez) claim AFC special teams player of the week honors.
Overall, the Browns placed 18th in the annual Rick Gosselin special teams rankings, higher than division rivals Pittsburgh (21st) and Cincinnati (26th).
In a statement, Stefanski said, “I appreciate everything Prief has done for this team in his three seasons as my special teams coordinator, but I have decided to move in another direction in the best interest of our organization. I know this city will forever be grateful for the job he did as acting head coach in our AFC Wildcard win and for all his contributions while leading the Browns special team's units for the last four seasons. We wish Prief the best with his next opportunity.”
Priefer was appointed acting head coach by Stefanski before the Browns defeated the Steelers, 48-37, in an AFC wild card game in Pittsburgh following the 2020 season. Stefanski had to be quarantined after contracting COVID-19 and watched the game from his rec room. It was the first Browns post-season win on the road since 1969. Priefer had another game as acting coach with Stefanski out again with COVID in 2021. The Browns lost, 16-14, to the Las Vegas Raiders, in Cleveland.
This late move leaves Stefanski now with four positions to fill on his coaching staff. Defensive backs coach Jeff Howard left to join the Los Angeles Chargers as inside linebackers coach, defensive line coach Chris Kiffin left to coach linebackers for the Houston Texans, and quarterbacks coach Drew Petzing left to become offensive coordinator with the Arizona Cardinals.
Also, Stefanski dismissed defensive coordinator Joe Woods right after the season and replaced him with Jim Schwartz.
