Former Notre Dame and Alabama offensive coordinator Tommy Rees is among the new offensive coaches brought in by Kevin Stefanski as he seeks new ideas to maximize QB Deshaun Watson (USA Today)
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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.
When Kevin Stefanski met the media on January 14 for his season-ending press conference, he entertained 38 questions. Most were about Deshaun Watson.
In the middle of this barrage came a seemingly throwaway question, one that is routinely asked after a season without expectations of a detailed response.
“Will all your coaches be back next year?” I asked Stefanski.
“Yeah, I think we’re evaluating everything right now,” the coach replied. “The other thing, as you know, is some guys will get opportunities over the next couple of weeks, so we’ll see how it all shakes out.”
There didn’t seem the need for a follow-up because there were no issues with the coaching staff.
Did we drop the ball on that count?
What shook out was nearly a complete overhaul of Stefanski’s offensive coaching staff – five assistants leaving – plus one key defensive change.
Change is good
Stefanski had not changed an offensive coach by choice in his first four seasons as Browns head coach. The only offensive assistant to leave was quarterbacks coach Drew Petzing after the 2022 season to become Jonathan Gannon’s offensive coordinator with the Arizona Cardinals.
Yet after a season in which Browns coaches navigated through four different starting quarterbacks for 11 wins and a wild-card playoff berth, Stefanski shook up his offensive staff. Or, rather, Stefansk’s offensive staff was shaken up.
Why? Two reasons emerge.
1. Insiders believe ownership was not happy with the progress of Watson in two seasons under Stefanski’s offensive system.
Although Stefanski spent numerous hours working with Watson and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt in a springtime “laboratory” to tailor the offense to his skill set, the results did not bring back Watson’s former game.
Watson was 4-1 in games he started and essentially completed, but two injuries to his right shoulder and a high ankle sprain limited him to 383 snaps – just 29 percent of the team’s offensive total.
Van Pelt was fingered as an old-guard coach not adept at maximizing the skills of a modern dual-threat quarterback.
2. There has been a belief in the Browns’ building that Stefanski needed to expand his horizons beyond coaches he was comfortable with and bring in coaches with new and different ideas.
GM Andrew Berry made reference to this in his season-ending press conference on January 22.
“We talk a lot with employees across the organization of hiring people with a growth mindset -- people that are continuous learners,” Berry said. “And I think you see that in not even just great coaches, but probably high achievers across industries.
“Andy Reid might be my favorite. Here’s someone when he was a 40-something year-old, first-time head coach in Philly, and you look at how he’s evolved as a coach or leader and offensive mind to where he is in Kansas City. He never stays stagnant. And we see those same characteristics in Kevin.”
Berry also hinted at a shakeup when he said, “Ultimately, the goal is to bring the franchise its first Super Bowl. So all the decisions moving forward will be with that goal in mind. And at times that may lead to hard and uncomfortable decisions, but everything will be with that mindset for improvement.”
The new staff
As the team prepares to head to the NFL Combine to familiarize the coaches with draft-eligible players for the first time, Stefanski’s changes to his staff appear complete.
They are:
Offensive coordinator
Out: Alex Van Pelt
In: Ken Dorsey
Dorsey’s work with dual-threat quarterbacks Cam Newton in Carolina and Josh Allen in Buffalo was cited by Stefanski in the team’s announcement. “[He] will bring a fresh approach to our offense,” the coach said of Dorsey, 42.
Van Pelt, 53, was hired by Jerod Mayo as New England Patriots offensive coordinator. He will also be the team’s offensive play-caller, a responsibility that Stefanski declined to give him in four years with the Browns.
Offensive line
Out: Bill Callahan
In: Andy Dickerson
This change was unforced. Callahan, 67, was allowed out of his Browns contract to join his son Brian, formerly OC with the Cincinnati Bengals, who was named head coach of the Tennessee Titans. Bill Callahan, a legendary O-line coach and running game guru, was probably Stefanski’s most trusted adviser.
Dickerson, 42, a former Eric Mangini assistant coach with the Browns, was most recently offensive line coach with the Seattle Seahawks. He was interviewed for the Browns OC position, at which time he was considered the fallback at O-line if Callahan left.
Assistant offensive line
Out: Scott Peters
In: Roy Istvan
Istavan, 55, surprisingly was allowed to make a lateral move by the Philadelphia Eagles after serving as assistant under Jeff Stoutland for five years. Stoutland is the Eagles’ version of Callahan.
Peters, 45, introduced jiu-jitsu techniques to Browns’ linemen. He followed Van Pelt to become New England’s offensive line coach.
Running back
Out: Stump Mitchell
In: Duce Staley
Mitchell, 64, was the only inherited offensive coach retained by Stefanski when he succeeded Freddie Kitchens in 2020. He also held the title of run game coordinator. He has not joined another NFL team.
Staley, 48, started his coaching career with the Eagles, the team that originally drafted him as a running back in 1997, and was running backs coach on the Eagles’ Super Bowl team in 2017. His tenure there coincided with Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, with him he had legendary practice battles, and Berry, who served an “internship” under Eagles GM Howie Roseman in 2019.
Tight end
Out: T.J. McCartney
In: Tommy Rees
Rees, 31, is the son of Bill Rees, a personnel executive under former Browns GM Phil Savage. He played quarterback for Notre Dame and then spent one season with the San Diego Chargers under Mike McCoy, before returning to Notre Dame as quarterbacks coach and then offensive coordinator under Brian Kelly and Marcus Freeman. Rees was Nick Saban’s offensive coordinator at Alabama last year. He is seen as a rising offensive coach and was given the additional title of pass game specialist.
McCartney, 34, the grandson of former Colorado coach Bill McCartney, originally was a member of Mike Pettine’s Browns coaching staff in 2014 and rejoined them in 2020 under Stefanski. He joined Van Pelt as Patriots quarterbacks coach.
Defensive line
Out: Ben Bloom
In: Jacques Cesaire
Cesaire, 43, spent the past two seasons as D-line coach of the Houston Texans under coordinator Matt Burke, a protégé of Schwartz.
Bloom, 41, who was with the Browns under Mangini in 2009-10 and rejoined them with Stefanski in 2020, moved on to join the Callahans as Tennessee Titans outside linebackers coach.