Teams that lose their starting quarterback, starting running back, and both starting offensive tackles generally don’t go too far. But even though Cleveland somehow gutted out an 11-6 record, they chose to part ways with much of their offensive staff this week. That includes Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. Van Pelt had been with the team since Kevin Stefanski took over as head coach in 2020.
There will be a new Browns offensive coordinator in 2024; that much is clear. What isn’t clear is who will actually call the plays. Stefanski has stubbornly retained playcalling duties throughout his tenure, much to the chagrin of Cleveland Browns fans. Stefanski’s playcalling has been anything but consistent. At times, he’s brilliant. At other times, he gets far too clever, often with disastrous consequences.
In 2023, the offense led the NFL in turnovers. That earned them the dubious distinction of becoming the first NFL team to make the playoffs despite leading the league in turnovers.
Four Cleveland Browns Offensive Coordinator Candidates to Consider (and Others to Pass On)
After the 2022 season, the Cleveland Browns hired two new coordinators: Jim Schwartz for defense and Bubba Ventrone for special teams. Both of these hires had the distinct smell of ownership involvement in them at the time. Both hires were outside of Stefanski’s previous coaching circles and both were for strong coaches considered to be autonomous. Stefanski’s previous hires had been up-and-comers with whom he had worked previously.
Given the injuries sustained by the team in 2023, it would have been easy to leave the Browns offensive coordinator and his staff in place. The firing at this juncture has that similar feel of ownership involvement. Therefore, fans can expect that the next Browns offensive coordinator will be of the Schwartz mold: Highly experienced, autonomous, and, most importantly, a strong play-caller.
Consider for Browns Offensive Coordinator: Bill O’Brien and/or Tim Kelly
The Cleveland Browns have a quarter of a billion dollars invested in Deshaun Watson. They have little to show for it 40% of the way through his contract. It would make sense, then, for the next Browns offensive coordinator to be someone who presided over Watson’s best years so far.
Bill O’Brien was the head coach of the Houston Texans for Watson’s entire tenure. Tim Kelly was the offensive coordinator for two of those seasons, and was the primary play-caller and quarterbacks coach in 2020. That season was arguably Watson’s best, as he completed over 70% of his passes for 33 touchdowns and 4,823 yards.
2023 was not a good year for either O’Brien or Kelly. O’Brien was brought back to the New England Patriots with the hope he would right the rapidly sinking ship of Mac Jones and Bill Belichick. That didn’t happen. Likewise, Kelly was promoted to offensive coordinator of the Tennesse Titans. The team anticipated he’d oversee the transition of quarterbacks and usher in a new era.
Neither happened, and both teams will have a new coaching staff in 2024. That said, neither team had the talent that the Browns have, and they’ve both had success with Watson in the past, unlike the existing Cleveland coaching staff.
Pass On: Josh McDaniels
Josh McDaniels is a name that somehow keeps popping up just about every coaching cycle. He’s been a disaster both times he’s been a head coach. Last time, he returned to New England. But this time, there may be no New England to return to. Belichick has been fired and Jerod Mayo has taken over.
Mayo and McDaniels have coached together before, so perhaps Mayo wants McDaniels. But McDaniels hasn’t had success without a quarterback named Brady. McDaniels is also widely known to have an abrasive personality. He may be a hot name, but he’s not a fit in Cleveland.
Consider: Kellen Moore
Kellen Moore is rumored to perhaps be the next head coach for the Carolina Panthers. Frankly, the Browns offensive coordinator job would be a better choice. Panthers owner David Tepper is well on his way to becoming the new Dan Snyder in the NFL. The Panthers have had four different head coaches in a little more than a year. Bryce Young, whom Tepper reportedly coveted, looked absolutely lost and out of place in his first season. Tepper himself throws drinks at fans and is known to be a bigger jerk than McDaniels.
If Moore comes to his senses, he could be a solid fit in Cleveland. Moore had success as the offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys. Under Moore, they averaged the second most points in the NFL (27.7), second in the NFL in total offense (391 YPG), and ranked in the top four in third down percentage (44 percent). They were also highly efficient in the red zone, scoring 71% of the time in 2022.
Pass On: Klint Kubiak
After the success of the San Francisco 49ers in 2023, Klint Kubiak should be a hot name. Kubiak, son of former NFL head coach Gary Kubiak, is a rapidly rising star in the NFL. Stefanksi will be tempted to hire him as the Browns offensive coordinator because they coached together in Minnesota and have similar play-design tendencies.
However, it’s worth noting that Kubiak has only one year under his belt as offensive coordinator: 2021 in Minnesota. That team underperformed, and the coaching staff was fired. The Cleveland Browns need a new approach to their offense that will get the most out of their talent. Kubiak isn’t it.
Consider: Eric Bieniemy
Eric Bieniemy is perhaps the most controversial name on this list. For years, he had significant success as the offensive coordinator with the Kansas City Chiefs. However, it’s not entirely clear how much of that credit he is owed. How much of it was him, vs head coach Andy Reid, vs quarterback Patrick Mahomes?
Bieniemy left Kansas City after the 2022 season for just that reason: He wanted to prove himself so he could up his chances of becoming a head coach one day. Unfortunately for Bieniemy, he chose to sink into the quagmire that is the Washington Commanders.
Long story short: the jury is still out on Bieniemy. The Commanders were the second-worst team in the NFL in 2023. Quarterback Sam Howell was a surprise bright side for the team early in the year when the Commanders jumped out to 2-0. But Washington won just twice more the rest of the season and looked worse with each passing week.
So how would Bieniemy be as the Browns offensive coordinator? He’s well-liked by his players. He’s known to run a highly disciplined and rigorous offense, something that Cleveland could use. His experience with Mahomes could well help Watson as well. That makes him worth talking to, at least, but perhaps not the slam dunk candidate that Schwartz and Ventrone were this time last year.
Pass On: Frank Reich
Frank Reich has been fired from two head coaching jobs in as many seasons. Reich has been around the NFL for the better part of 40 years. As a player, he is widely known as perhaps the best backup quarterback in NFL history. After spending several years in the seminary, he returned to coaching in 2006 and rose through the ranks quickly. In 2018, he was the offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles when they won the Super Bowl.
On the face, he looks like a great choice for the Browns offensive coordinator. However, he has yet to show he can develop a quarterback on his own. As a head coach for the Indianapolis Colts, his teams were marred by constant quarterback changes. Then, in 2023 in Carolina, his prize rookie signal caller Bryce Young looked like a horrific bust all year, leading to his firing. Watson needs a steady hand in 2024, and Reich doesn’t look like he’s it.
Consider: Shane Waldron
Shane Waldron has been a football coach for the better part of 20 years. Only recently has his star started to rise. But in those early years, Waldron has coached every part of the offense at every level. He’s coached the wide receivers, tight ends, offensive line, and quarterbacks. Most coordinators don’t show that kind of versatility.
Waldron finally got his break in 2021 with the Seattle Seahawks after learning the Sean McVay style of offense with the Los Angeles Rams. But it’s what Waldron has done the last two seasons that make him an elite candidate. After trading Russell Wilson, the Seahawks were widely written off with Geno Smith under center. But Waldron coached Smith to 4,282 yards, nearly a 70% completion percentage, and a 30/11 touchdown/interception ratio. Smith hadn’t been a starter for the better part of a decade at that point.
Moreover, Smith has a skillset similar to Watson’s – the strong-armed, mobile quarterback who can extend plays with his feet. The Cleveland Browns are one wide receiver away from having as good a set of weapons as anyone in the league. That should make Cleveland a good fit for Waldron and vice versa.
Pass On: Other up-and-comers
There are a lot of great coaches out there who need a chance to shine. The Cleveland Browns, however, are a team that is built to win now, and the window is closing fast. They need someone who can grab the reins of the offense and their quarter-billion-dollar quarterback and come out of the gates swinging, not someone who will need even half of a season to grow into their role.
Main Iamge: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
