NFL News: Browns' Tommy Rees Promoted to OC Role After Ken Dorsey's Firing
Joseph Zucker@@JosephZucker
Featured Columnist IVJanuary 14, 2025
The Cleveland Browns are promoting Tommy Rees to replace Ken Dorsey as their offensive coordinator, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
Rees joined Cleveland's staff as the passing game specialist and tight ends coach ahead of the 2024 NFL season. Before that, he was an offensive coordinator at Notre Dame and Alabama.
Cleveland made the change at offensive coordinator after it ranked last in points (15.2) and 28th in yards (300.8) per game.
Not all of that is on Dorsey because quarterback Deshaun Watson might be past the point of salvaging. The three-time Pro Bowler threw for 1,148 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions in seven starts.
Running back Nick Chubb also missed nine games and averaged a career-low 3.3 yards per carry.
Still, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Daniel Oyefusi laid out how Dorsey was an imperfect fit for Kevin Stefanski's offense. His presence had been questioned by some within the organization from the moment he arrived.
Unlike Dorsey, Rees won't be burdened with trying to make Watson a franchise QB again. The 29-year-old tore his right Achilles for a second time, which jeopardizes his availability for the 2025 season.
The Athletic's Dianna Russini also reported on Jan. 7 that the Browns "have always planned on going for a quarterback in the upcoming draft," so the new Achilles injury may not have changed much. With the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NFL draft, Cleveland can pivot to a new long-term plan at QB.
Assuming that's the plan, setting up a rookie signal-caller to succeed will be one of Rees' top objectives. His experience playing and coaching in college should be an asset in that regard because he'll be able to connect and communicate with a first-year star coming into the league.
The biggest downside for Rees is that he could find himself out of a job in relatively short order.
Stefanski may not be able to survive another season in which Cleveland falls so short of expectations. Were the Browns to fire him, his replacement would probably bring in his own top assistants.