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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.
Kevin Stefanski has picked young Tommy Rees as his new offensive coordinator. The club will confirm the promotion on Wednesday.
Which will instantly spawn two pieces of speculation:
* Will Stefanski take back play-calling in 2025 or will he entrust it to a first-time NFL coordinator?
* Will the Browns reunite Rees with Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe in the 2025 draft?
Milroe had his best college season with Rees as Nick Saban’s offensive coordinator in 2023. Milroe was a 65.8% passer with 23 touchdowns vs. 6 interceptions as the Crimson Tide went 12-2 in the last season of Saban’s legendary career.
But in Saban’s final game, Milroe was less impressive, throwing for 116 yards and running for 63 in Alabama’s 27-20 loss to Michican in the CFP semifinals. The game was sealed when Milroe was stopped 2 yards short of the end zone on the final play.
After Saban was replaced by Kalen DeBoer, Milroe’s play regressed and the Crimson Tide went 8-4 and missed the CFP 12-team field. Milroe had 35 more pass attempts and only 10 more yards than the previous season, his TDs decreased to 16 and INTs increased to 11. The dual-threat QB relied more on his legs, running for 726 yards – almost 200 more than the year before.
Rees, 32, joined the Browns as tight ends coach last year. Stefanski immediately assigned coaching consultant Mike Vrabel to “assist” Rees and help him acclimate through the early stages of the offseason and training camp.
Because Rees and Vrabel previously had developed a relationship during Vrabel’s scouting visits to Notre Dame, where Rees played quarterback and then coached under Brian Kelly, it was commonly assumed that Vrabel would take Rees to his next coaching stop
But when Vrabel was rumored to be owner Robert Kraft’s choice as Patriots head coach, Boston-area media speculated Josh McDaniels would make a third return to the team as offensive coordinator. Vrabel was introduced as New England coach on Monday. He declined to comment on the McDaniel speculation.
Even though Rees is considered an up-and-comer as an NFL offensive coach, it is rare to leapfrog from tight ends coach to coordinator and bypass a season as quarterbacks coach.
That’s one reason to think Stefanski would take back play-calling in 2025. He never appeared comfortable in the role of CEO coach after he handed play-calling to former coordinator Ken Dorsey, mysteriously, midway through the season when Jameis Winston took over for injured Deshaun Watson.
Also, all indications are that Stefanski will re-install his under-center, play-action passing game in 2025 after the experiment with Dorsey’s shotgun spread offense tailored for Watson failed so miserably.
If that is the case, drafting Milroe would appear an attempt to squeeze a square peg in a round hole.
Milroe, 6-2 and 225 pounds, has outstanding strength and athleticism, dual-threat skills best utilized as a read-option quarterback. Some draft analysts have comped him to the Colts’ Anthony Richardson.
Milroe has committed to play in the Reese’s Senior Bowl on February 1. It is a pre-draft event Stefanski seldom attended in his previous five years. But you might see him down there this year, along with Rees.