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Browns coaching candidates: 5 options to replace offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey
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- Browns coaching candidates: 5 options to replace offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey
The Browns are hiring an offensive coordinator for the second straight offseason after firing Ken Dorsey on Sunday. Dorsey was hired last January following the dismissal of Alex Van Pelt despite the Browns reaching the playoffs a season ago.
These Browns finished 3-14 this past season and the new offensive coordinator inherits an offense that ranked among the league's worst in numerous key categories.
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Here's some names to know as possibilities to take over the Cleveland offense .
Who replaces Ken Dorsey? 5 Browns candidates
Klint Kubiak, former New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator
METAIRIE, LOUISIANA - MAY 28: Derek Carr #4 of the New Orleans Saints talks with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak at the OTA Offseason Workout at the New Orleans Saints Practice facility on May 28, 2024 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
This was one of the very first names to come to mind when the position opened. The son of Gary Kubiak, who is essentially Stefanski's mentor and the one whose philosophy he has cribbed from the most, spent last season as the offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints. That staff, though, was all let go when the season ended after head coach Dennis Allen had been fired midseason. The younger Kubiak worked with Stefanski twice with the Vikings, in 2013-14 as an offensive quality control coach and as the quarterbacks coach in 2019 while Stefanski was the offensive coordinator.
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Josh McCown , Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks coach
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 08: Quarterbacks coach Josh McCown greets Sam Darnold #14 of the Minnesota Vikings after a touchdown against the New York Giant at MetLife Stadium on September 08, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Josh McCown may be one of the most likeable people in the NFL. That has nothing necessarily to do with the qualifications needed for this job, but it would certainly help with any transition. As for the actual football part of this, the former quarterback — including a stint with the Browns — has spent the last two seasons coaching in the NFL. He started in 2023 as the quarterbacks coach under head coach Frank Reich with the Carolina Panthers , a staff that also included current Browns running backs coach Duce Staley. This season, he's helped with Sam Darnold 's renaissance with the Minnesota Vikings as the quarterbacks coach under head coach Kevin O'Connell. O'Connell, obviously, has a heavy influence over both the offense and the quarterback position. This would be, by title and responsibility, a promotion, although play-calling duties was not something Stefanski necessarily said would be the province of the new hire. Regardless, the Browns couldn't talk to McCown until next week at the earliest because the Vikings are in the playoffs.
Browns analysis: Browns restoring Kevin Stefanski's bread-and-butter offense would be a no-brainer | Ulrich
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Dave Ragone, Los Angeles Rams quarterbacks coach
Jul 29, 2024; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) talks with quarterback coach Dave Ragone during training camp at Loyola Marymount University. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
The ultimate "hometown boy" story. The former St. Ignatius High School quarterback has had a lengthy NFL coaching career since he first went to work for former Browns head coach Chris Palmer as wide receivers coach for the Tennessee Titans in 2011. Most of that time, be it with Tennessee, Washington, Chicago , Atlanta and, now Los Angeles , has been working with either the quarterbacks or the passing game, at least in title. Ragone spent the last three seasons before this one as the offensive coordinator the Falcons, although he didn't call plays for head coach Arthur Smith. This would be a promotion in terms of title, but the Browns would have to wait at least until next week to speak to him because of the Rams being in the playoffs.
Tommy Rees, Cleveland Browns tight ends coach/pass game specialist
Pass Game Specialist/Tight Ends Coach Tommy Rees during a workout in Phase II of the offseason at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 1, 2024.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski said there would be internal candidates he was going to talk to as part of the search. Tommy Rees, who was a new addition to the offensive staff a year ago, has generated some buzz as a potential option. Rees' background prior to this season was mostly in college at power programs such as Notre Dame and Alabama. Rees' philosophy while coordinating the offense at those two programs shows a lot of ways he and Stefanski would mesh. He was a big proponent of the run game as a focal point of the offense, especially between the tackles or just off-tackle. Not surprising that the man hired to coach tight ends also utilized two-tight end sets quite a bit.
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Alex Van Pelt, former New England Patriots offensive coordinator
Sep 24, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, right, and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt watch warm ups before the game between the Browns and the Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
This could be awkward, or it could be seen as a sign of maturity and taking the high road. Van Pelt is technically out of a job right now after the New England Patriots axed head coach Jerod Mayo following one season. Two big names in the Browns' locker room, two-time All-Pro offensive linemen Jack Conklin and Joel Bitonio , both talked at length about going back to the identity that had been established when Van Pelt was working alongside Stefanski over the first four seasons the head coach was in Cleveland . The offense was successful enough to win 11 games twice, earning two of the Browns' three post-expansion playoff berths. Maybe it wasn't the coordinator and, instead, was the quarterback that made the offense not work? Just a thought.
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 5 Browns offensive coordinator candidates to replace Ken Dorsey
