UPDATED: Browns Coaching Hires, Interviews and Potential Cleveland Browns Offensive Coordinator Candidates.
The Cleveland Browns dismissed three offensive coaches only days after their January 13 wild-card defeat to the Houston Texans.
Josina Anderson of CBS Sports reported on Wednesday morning, January 17, that the company opted to remove offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. The Browns also will move on from running backs coach Stump Mitchell and tight ends coach T.C. McCartney. Kevin Stefanski will be aiming to bolster the offensive coordinator position with a bright and creative offensive mind. The Browns have added two players to their offensive team in a swift manner.
Running Backs Coach: Duce Staley Staley is expected to accept the position in Cleveland after interviewing with the Browns and the Jets.
Staley spent his entire Eagles career from 2011 to 2020. In 2021, he accepted a job with the Lions to serve as the team’s running backs coach in addition to associate head coach. Up until the start of the 2023 season, he remained with the Panthers in the same role under head coach Frank Reich. But on November 27, he was fired, along with Reich and Josh McCown, the quarterbacks coach. Coach of Tight Ends: Tommy Rees Rees was Nick Saban’s offensive coordinator during Alabama’s first season.
The Browns have interviewed three candidates for the offensive coordinator position as of Wednesday. New Note: They are planning to interview former Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson on Thursday. Jerrod Johnson, Quarterbacks Coach, Houston Texans Johnson has had a significant influence on the growth of rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud. Johnson coached for Kyle Shanahan for a year.
After Saban announced his retirement, new coach Kalen DeBoer declined to keep Rees. It is not shocking that Rees wasn’t unemployed for long. He previously served as Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator and has an excellent reputation. The position with the Browns will be his second in the NFL.
San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks coach Brian Griese
The Browns are not in the market for a play-caller, even though Brian Griese lacks experience in this area. For the final two seasons, the former NFL quarterback was under Kyle Shanahan’s tutelage.
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Griese assisted in bringing Brock Purdy to San Francisco after scouting him. Griese was in charge when Purdy became a viable MVP contender in 2023–2024. This hiring cycle, Griese will be considered as a possible offensive coordinator. Note: Had an interview to be the offensive coordinator for the Saints. Coach of Indianapolis’ quarterbacks, Cam Turner Colts.
Turner worked for Kliff Kingsbury for four years in Arizona, when he was promoted to assistant passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Turner, who was on a number of coaching shortlists the previous cycle, collaborated with Shane Steichen this year, putting him firmly on the radar of numerous teams as an emerging talent.
