The Cleveland Browns’ search for their next offensive coordinator has been extensive and ongoing for the past week, and today we learned of a new name in the mix: Kellen Moore.
Following Jim Harbaugh’s selection as the Chargers’ next head coach, the former offensive coordinator was allowed clearance to interview around the NFL. Harbaugh will have the opportunity to assemble his own staff, and the Chargers will not stand in the way of Moore and other former staff members pursuing new chances.
Moore, 35, spent the 2023 season as the Chargers’ offensive coordinator. He joined Brandon Staley’s staff in January 2023, following five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys.
The Chargers were a top-ten offensive by DVOA for much of the season until injuries to Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen, and center Will Clapp caused a dreadful last month of the season. The Chargers’ major issues were protection strategy and running the ball, both of which the Browns’ current management can plainly improve.
Moore was the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator in 2019, and the team finished first in yards and sixth in points. They also topped both categories in the 2021 season.
It is unclear whether Moore will be the one calling plays if the two parties reach an agreement, but a formal acceptance of an interview indicates that there is a way for the two sides to collaborate with Kevin Stefanski.
Cleveland Browns Coaching Hires, Interviews, and Possible Offensive Coordinator Candidates
The Cleveland Browns fired three offensive coaches just days after losing to the Houston Texans in the wild card round on January 13.
Josina Anderson of CBS Sports reported on Wednesday morning, January 17, that the organization had opted to remove offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. The Browns will also part ways with running backs coach Stump Mitchell and tight ends coach T.C. McCartney.
With the new offensive coordinator position open, Kevin Stefanski will look to bring a sharp and imaginative offensive mind to the staff.
HIRING UPDATES
The Browns have acted quickly, making two offensive hires.
Duce Staley, the running backs coach, has interviewed with both the Browns and the Jets. He is expected to accept the position in Cleveland.
Staley was with the Eagles from 2011 until 2020. He accepted a position with the Lions in 2021 as associate head coach and running backs coach. He continued to serve in the same capacity for the Panthers under head coach Frank Reich until the start of the 2023 season. However, on November 27, he was fired alongside Reich and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown.
Tommy Rees is the tight ends coach. He formerly worked as Alabama’s offensive coordinator under Nick Saban for one season. After Saban announced his retirement, new coach Kalen DeBoer declined to retain Rees.
It’s not surprising that Rees wasn’t unemployed for long. He formerly served as Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator and has a great reputation.
The Browns position will be his second in the NFL. In 2016, he served as an offensive assistant with the Chargers.
Offensive Coordinator Candidates Interviewed
As of Wednesday, the Browns had interviewed three applicants for the offensive coordinator position.
New Note: They intend to interview former Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson on Thursday.
Jerrod Johnson, Quarterbacks Coach, Houston Texans
Johnson has had a huge impact on the development of rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud. Johnson has coached Kyle Shanahan for a year, Frank Reich for three seasons, and Kevin O’Connell and Bobby Slowik subsequently.
Johnson’s endorsements from all those offensive minds, combined with his excellent track record in quarterback development, make him an impressive contender who will receive a lot of attention following what he and Slowik accomplished this season.
Johnson interviewed for the Saints’ offensive coordinator position, and the Eagles have asked to interview him for the same position in Philadelphia.
Andy Dickerson, Offensive Line Coach, Seattle Seahawks.
Dickerson was most recently the Seahawks’ offensive line coach, but he, like former offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, has been free to pursue other jobs since Pete Carroll’s switch from head coach to advisor.
Dickerson joined Seattle in 2021 as offensive run game coordinator before becoming offensive line coach in 2022.
Dickerson was the Rams’ assistant offensive line coach from 2012 until 2020.
Dickerson interviewed for the Bengals’ Offensive Coordinator post on Tuesday. Dickerson and Bengals head coach Zac Taylor were on the same offensive staff under Sean McVay in 2017-2018. However, the Bengals have decided to promote Dan Pitcher, their quarterbacks coach, to fill the offensive coordinator post in Cincinnati.
Ken Dorsey, Former Offensive Coordinator, Buffalo Bills
Dorsey was fired in November, following the Bills’ Week 10 loss to the Broncos. He was in his second season as Buffalo’s offensive coordinator. Sean McDermott promoted him from passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach to take over for Brian Daboll, who had been named head coach of the Giants.
In 2022, Buffalo’s offensive finished second in both points and total yardage.
Dorsey began his career with the Panthers as a pro scout and later became their quarterback coach from 2013 to 2017.
Dorsey, 42, played with the Browns from 2006 to 2008. In 2008, he made three starts for the club and went 0–3.
Offensive coordinator candidates
Darell Bevell is the Miami Dolphins’ quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator.
Bevell was the Minnesota Vikings’ Offensive Coordinator from 2006 to 2010, working alongside Stefanski. In 2009, his Vikings offense was fifth in yards and second in points.
Bevell was the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks from 2011 to 2017, winning the Super Bowl in 2013.
Bevell has worked alongside Brett Favre, Brad Johnson, Russell Wilson, Matthew Stafford, Trevor Lawrence, and Tua Tagovailoa.
Under coach Mike McDaniel, the Dolphins have the top passing offense and the second-highest scoring offense in 2024.
Brian Johnson, Offensive Coordinator, Philadelphia Eagles.
Johnson was recently interviewed by the Browns and is under consideration for the position. Johnson has previously worked with Nick Sirianni and Shane Steichen as coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Eagles the previous two seasons. He has done substantial work with Jalen Hurts to help him develop into an All-Pro-caliber quarterback.
He became a scapegoat for an offense that failed in 2023, owing to Sirianni’s excessive influence on the offense and a lack of pro-snap variation in quarterback selection and motion.
It’s probable Johnson was also interviewing for the quarterbacks coach position.
Tim Kelly, Offensive Coordinator, Tennessee Titans
Kelly has been the Titans’ offensive coordinator for two seasons, but with Head Coach Mike Vrabel being sacked at the end of the season, Kelly will most likely be looking for new opportunities. Typically, a new Head Coach wants to hire his own staff.
Kelly is noteworthy because he was the offensive coordinator during Deshaun Watson’s breakout season in the NFL.
He was with the Texans from 2014 to 2021, and he was the offensive coordinator for three seasons (2019-2021). Two of those seasons were spent with Watson as quarterback. Watson’s success in Kelly’s offense makes him a viable option for Stefanksi.
Zac Robinson, the Los Angeles Rams’ passing-game coordinator and quarterback coach
Robinson has spent five seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, the last two as quarterback coach and pass game coordinator.
Prior to joining the Rams, Robinson worked as a senior analyst for Pro Football Focus, a leading analytics website. He has been one of the site’s top pro and collegiate quarterback evaluations since 2016.
Robinson spent four seasons as an NFL quarterback, being selected by the Patriots in the seventh round (250th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft. He later had brief stints with the Seattle, Detroit Lions, and Cincinnati Bengals.
Liam Coen – Offensive Coordinator and Quarterback Coach at the University of Kentucky.
Coen was the Los Angeles Rams’ coach for three years under McVay. In 2021, Coen returned to college football as Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach at Kentucky, where he assisted Will Levis in being selected in the second round of the draft.
Coen returned to the Rams in 2022 as McVay’s offensive coordinator before joining Kentucky in 2023.
His expertise as an offensive coach in college and the NFL, along with his crucial time under McVay, make him an intriguing prospect.
Nick Caley, Tight Ends Coach, Los Angeles Rams.
Caley started coaching at John Carroll and was taken on with the New England Patriots after 10 years at the collegiate level.
He spent seven years as an offensive assistant in New England, from 2015 to 2022.
He was the Tight Ends Coach under McVay in Los Angeles this season, which quickly made him a name to remember. The McVay coaching tree piques the curiosity of coaches around the league, and for good reason: the league is replete of coaches who have gone on to achieve offensive and defensive success after working with McVay.
Caley interviewed for the positions of offensive coordinator with the Patriots, Texans, and Jets last season.
Klint Kubiak, Pass Game Coordinator, San Francisco 49ers
Kubiak began his NFL coaching career as an offensive quality control coach for the Minnesota Vikings from 2013 to 2014, working alongside Stefanksi.
Klint’s father, Gary Kubiak, supported Stefanski during his entire season as offensive coordinator with the Vikings in 2019, while Klint served as the quarterbacks coach on that staff.
He took over as the offensive coordinator for Minnesota in 2021.
Kubiak, who will be 37 in February, already has over a decade of experience working with offenses, and his recent year on the 49ers’ coaching staff has made him even more appealing to teams looking for a new offensive coordinator.
Interviewed for the Saints Offensive Coordinator position.
Brian Griese, Quarterbacks Coach, San Francisco 49ers
While Brian Griese lacks play-calling experience, the Browns do not want a play-caller. The former NFL quarterback spent the previous two seasons working under Kyle Shanahan.
Griese discovered Brock Purdy and helped bring him to San Francisco. Purdy emerged as an MVP candidate in 2023-24 while under Griese’s management.
Griese will be considered as a potential offensive coordinator during this hiring cycle.
Interviewed for the Saints Offensive Coordinator position.
Cam Turner, Quarterbacks Coach, Indianapolis Colts
Turner worked with Kliff Kingsbury in Arizona for four years, eventually becoming co-passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Turner, who was on multiple coaching shortlists last cycle, collaborated with Shane Steichen this season, putting him on several teams’ radars as an emerging offensive talent.
Browns’ struggles in 2023 could pay dividends in 2024.
The Cleveland Browns’ 2023 season was devastating in terms of injuries sustained. The players forced into action gained from the experience, which should continue into 2024.
Watching the 2023 Cleveland Browns season was challenging at times due to the team’s numerous injuries. It was disheartening, but it served as a rallying cry for fans, making what they accomplished all the more impressive. The 2024 Browns could benefit from the expertise gained by players compelled to perform in stressful situations.
There is surely an aspect of what could have been if the Browns had remained healthy this season. It’s exacerbated by the reality that players like Nick Chubb, Deshaun Watson, and Jack Conklin face unanswered issues into 2024. Those unknowns are concerning, but players behind them were given the opportunity to play and added value to the Browns, which may carry over into next season.
Dawand Jones looked like a starting tackle as a rookie. He is still recovering from knee surgery, but he has proven to be an excellent pass protector. Jones needs to improve his running game significantly, but he is unlikely to be any worse than he was last season. Regardless of how the Browns manage their offensive line for the 2024 season, Jones has demonstrated his worth with three years left on his rookie contract.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s debut season was an intriguing ride. Clearly unprepared for his first start against the Baltimore Ravens, he rebounded strongly in his following two games. Even though the Browns reduced his exposure against the Pittsburgh Steelers, DTR led a game-winning drive that required him to make many important passes.
The performance versus the Denver Broncos held more promise. DTR appeared more at ease as he continued to participate in that game. Unfortunately, a concussion forced him to leave the game, just as DTR appeared to be rallying the offense to take the lead on the road against the Broncos. He made a handful of key throws in the second and third quarters of the game.
DTR understands that he still has a lot of developing to do. It was heartbreaking to see his season end due to a hip injury suffered against the Houston Texans. Still, DTR’s expertise as a quarterback was valuable. He saw the game’s speed and was able to adjust to it. If he can improve in his second year, DTR might be an excellent quarterback to prepare the team’s defense.
Jerome Ford had a frustrating year. He struggled at first, but improved throughout the year. However, as he advanced, the offensive line and run blocking weakened in front of him. Ford demonstrated some aptitude, but his overall running game was poor, especially given the scheme. The organization may be looking to add running back help in the draft this year while also future-proofing the squad.
