Tag: offensive coordinator

Browns offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, right, watches as new quarterback Bailey Zappe warms up before a game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Cleveland.

Reports: Browns fire OC Ken Dorsey after 3-14 season

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Cleveland Browns fired Ken Dorsey, parting ways with their second offensive coordinator in as many seasons, multiple outlets reported Sunday.

Offensive line coach Andy Dickerson also was let go, per reports.

The Brows concluded their season Saturday with a 35-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, finishing 3-14. Their offense, hampered by rotating quarterbacks and another season-ending injury to running back Nick Chubb, mustered only an NFL-low 15.2 points per game.

Cleveland will finish last in the NFL in scoring with 258 points — fewer than half the points scored by the Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski, who has a 40-44 record in five seasons with the Browns, is expected to be retained, NFL Network reported.

This is the second consecutive season that Dorsey, 43, has been fired. The Buffalo Bills dismissed him 10 games into the 2023 season amid perception the Josh Allen-led offense was underachieving.

In Cleveland, Dorsey replaced Alex Van Pelt, who was let go within days of the Browns getting routed 45-14 by the Houston Texans in the wild-card round of the playoffs last Jan. 13. The Van Pelt offense ranked 10th in the NFL in points per game (23.3).

It was expected Dorsey would take quarterback Deshaun Watson to the next level, but the Browns were 1-6 when Watson was lost for the season with a torn Achilles. Veteran Jameis Winston and second-year quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson took over at the position, with Bailey Zappe making his first start of the season in the loss on Saturday.

–Field Level Media

Jan 15, 2023; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey looks on before playing against the Miami Dolphins in a NFL wild card game at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Browns announce hiring of Ken Dorsey as OC

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The Cleveland Browns on Monday announced the hiring of Ken Dorsey as offensive coordinator.

Dorsey replaces Alex Van Pelt, was let go within days of the Browns getting routed 45-14 by the Houston Texans in the wild-card round of the playoffs on Jan. 13.

Dorsey was fired as OC by the Buffalo Bills midseason.

“Ken has worked with and elevated some of the top quarterbacks in this league and will bring a fresh approach to our offense,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said in a release. “He knows what it takes to be successful at that position as he was one of the most successful college quarterbacks of all time and that has helped him become a tremendous coach. He has a history with this team and knows what the Browns mean to this city.”

The 42-year-old Dorsey spent two of his four seasons as an NFL quarterback with the Browns in 2006 and 2008.

Dorsey was the quarterbacks coach for the Carolina Panthers from 2013-17. He took the same job with the Bills in 2019 and had the title of offensive passing game coordinator added in 2021. He became offensive coordinator in 2022.

Van Pelt was hired by the New England Patriots last week to be their OC.

–Field Level Media

Aug 26, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy looks on during the team s game against the Buffalo Bills at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Raiders expected to name Luke Getsy as OC

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The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to hire former Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy to that same role, multiple outlets reported.

The Bears fired Getsy, 39, last month.

ESPN reported Sunday that Getsy was one of at least five coaches interviewed, including UCLA head coach Chip Kelly and former Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingbury, who withdrew his candidacy and could wind up on the staff of the Washington Commanders.

Antonio Pierce, named the permanent head coach of the Raiders after an interim stint, said he is looking to upgrade the offense from the 19.5 points the Raiders averaged in 2023. The Raiders were 27th in the NFL last season in overall offense, averaging 289.5 yards per game.

The Bears offense averaged 21.2 points per game under Getsy.

–Field Level Media

Dec 25, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury takes the field before their game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at State Farm Stadium. Nfl Tampa Bay At Cardinals

Report: Kliff Kingsbury withdraws from consideration for Raiders OC job

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Kliff Kingsbury has taken himself out of the running for the Las Vegas Raiders’ vacant offensive coordinator position, ESPN reported on Saturday citing an exchange with his agent.

Multiple media outlets had Kingsbury in line to be hired for the position under Raiders now head coach Antonio Pierce.

Kingsbury, 44, posted a 28-37-1 record before he was fired at the end of his fourth season in 2022 as the Arizona Cardinals’ head coach. He spent the 2023 football season as a senior offensive analyst for Lincoln Riley at Southern California, where he worked with potential No. 1 overall draft pick Caleb Williams.

A former NFL quarterback, Kingsbury worked at the University of Houston and Texas A&M as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach before taking the head coaching job at Texas Tech, where he overlapped with Patrick Mahomes.

Kingsbury’s best season with the Cardinals came in 2021, when they ranked 11th in scoring offense but watched a 10-2 start end in an 11-6 regular-season record and a blowout loss in the wild-card round.

Kingsbury also interviewed with the Chicago Bears for their offensive coordinator post before Chicago hired former Seattle Seahawks OC Shane Waldron.

–Field Level Media

Aug 26, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Buffalo Bills guard Greg Van Roten (64), quarterback Josh Allen (17) and offensive coach Joe Brady watch as Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold (not pictured) is carted off the field during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Bills remove interim tag, promote Joe Brady to OC

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The Buffalo Bills named Joe Brady as their offensive coordinator on Sunday.

Brady was in his second season as Buffalo’s quarterbacks coach before he was promoted to interim offensive coordinator in mid-November after Ken Dorsey was fired.

Dorsey was dismissed on Nov. 14, one day after the Bills lost 24-22 to the Denver Broncos to fall to 5-5 on the season.

Under Brady, the Bills won six of their last seven games of the season to capture the AFC East title for the fourth year in a row. They also defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild-card round before falling to the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round on Jan. 21.

Brady, 34, also served as the Carolina Panthers’ offensive coordinator for two seasons (2020-21). He was an offensive assistant with the New Orleans Saints for two seasons (2017-18) and spent the 2019 season as passing coordinator for LSU’s national championship team.

–Field Level Media

Oct 7, 2023; Columbia, Missouri, USA; A general view of a LSU Tigers helmet against the Missouri Tigers during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: LSU promotes Joe Sloan, Cortez Hankton to co-OCs

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LSU is promoting quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan and wide receivers coach/passing game coordinator Cortez Hankton to the roles of co-offensive coordinators, multiple outlets reported Tuesday.

Sloan will call the plays for head coach Brian Kelly’s Tigers next season, per the reports. Sloan and Hankton will replace Mike Denbrock, who departed for the same position at Notre Dame.

Sloan and Hankton served as co-offensive coordinators during LSU’s 35-31 win against Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Jan. 1, with the Tigers (10-3) racking up 492 yards of offense.

Sloan was the offensive coordinator at Louisiana Tech from 2020-21 before spending the past two years as the QBs coach in Baton Rouge, helping Jayden Daniels develop into the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner.

Sloan also helped with the successful recruiting of quarterback Bryce Underwood, the No. 1 overall player in the class of 2025 per 247 Sports.

Hankton joined the LSU staff in 2022 after coaching the wide receivers at Georgia (2018-21), Vanderbilt (2015-17) and Dartmouth (2012-14).

–Field Level Media

Dec 25, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni (L) and quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) and offensive coordinator Brian Johnson (R) talk during the second quarter against the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Eagles fire OC Brian Johnson

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Offensive coordinator Brian Johnson is out in the latest major change for the Philadelphia Eagles, according to multiple reports.

The Eagles have not yet confirmed the move but head coach Nick Sirianni and general manager Howie Roseman are scheduled for a Wednesday press conference.

Parting with Johnson was expected after a sitdown between owner Jeffrey Lurie and Sirianni last week resulted in firing defensive coordinator Sean Desai. He was relieved of play-calling duties last month, and his replacement in that role, Matt Patricia, also is gone as the Eagles search for the right ingredients to return to the Super Bowl.

Johnson, 36, was in his first year as offensive coordinator, replacing Shane Steichen, who was hired one year ago as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts.

He previously served as quarterbacks coach and was credited in the run-up to Super Bowl LVII for aiding Jalen Hurts’ rapid growth.

But Hurts took a step back in 2023 and the offense hit significant speed bumps after a 10-1 start to the regular season.

Desai, 40, was demoted after lopsided defeats to the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys in December.

Desai took over in February 2023 when defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon left to become the Arizona Cardinals’ head coach. He oversaw a defensive unit that allowed 35 passing touchdowns (second in the NFL) and ranked 30th in red zone and third-down defense in 2023.

Desai came to Philadelphia after one season with the Seattle Seahawks as an associate head coach and defensive assistant.

Desai was on the Bears’ coaching staff from 2013-21, rising to the position of defensive coordinator in 2021. He was fired after that season when the Bears parted ways with head coach Matt Nagy.

–Field Level Media

Aug 25, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien talks with quarterback Bailey Zappe (4) during the first half against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State reportedly hires Bill O’Brien to run offense

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Ohio State is on the verge of hiring Bill O’Brien as offensive coordinator, multiple outlets reported.

He is expected to take over play-calling from head coach Ryan Day and also mentor Buckeyes’ quarterbacks.

O’Brien has a promising record working with quarterbacks, including Tom Brady during his first stint on the New England Patriots’ coaching staff more than a decade ago.

O’Brien, 54, spent the 2023 season as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in New England, following two seasons in the same role on Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama. He was the head coach of the Houston Texans (2014-20) and Penn State (2012-13) after experience as an assistant coach at both the pro and college levels.

At Alabama, the O’Brien-led offense averaged 39.9 and 41.1 points per game in his two seasons.

In 2023, Ohio State averaged 30.5 points per game, good for 44th in the nation. In 2022, the Buckeyes were second in the nation with 44.2 points per game.

The dropoff in points followed the shift from C.J. Stroud to Kyle McCord as starting quarterback.

In 2024, Ohio State’s quarterback depth chart will include Will Howard, formerly of Kansas State, and five-star recruit Air Noland, ranked as the nation’s No. 4 team by the 247Sports composite.

The offense will be boosted by the addition of two-time All-SEC tailback Quinshon Judkins, an Ole Miss transfer, as will as the returns of standout wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and running back TreVeyon Henderson.

–Field Level Media

Oct 29, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada before playing the Jacksonville Jaguars at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Steelers OC to call plays from field vs. Titans

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Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada will abandon his spot in the booth upstairs and call the plays on the field Thursday night when Pittsburgh hosts the Tennessee Titans, NFL Network reported.

Canada, whose play-calling has been criticized by fans throughout the season, now will be positioned where he can consult with quarterback Kenny Pickett and head coach Mike Tomlin.

Through seven games, the Steelers are averaging 271.7 yards per game, ahead of only the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants. Their average of 16.1 points per game is 29th in the NFL.

They are coming off a 20-10 home loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in which they gained 261 yards.

Despite their offensive doldrums, the Steelers are one of three 4-3 teams in the AFC North trying to catch the Baltimore Ravens (6-2). That is remarkable, considering their defense has given up an average of 21.0 points and 382.6 yards per game. The yardage total is the third-worst in the NFL.

Fans began calling for Canada’s dismissal last season and it’s continued into 2023, with fans at a recent Pittsburgh Penguins game even chanting “Fire Matt Canada.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 16, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback coach Matt Nagy watches as quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) warms up prior to a game against the Buffalo Bills at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Nagy returns to role as Chiefs’ OC

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Matt Nagy will return to his former role as the Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive coordinator, taking back the position after Eric Bieniemy left to take the same position with the Washington Commanders.

Nagy was the Chiefs’ OC for two seasons starting in 2016 before leaving to become the head coach of the Chicago Bears in 2018.

After four seasons and a 34-31 regular-season record with the Bears, Nagy was fired and returned to the staff of head coach Andy Reid this past season to become the Chiefs’ quarterbacks coach and senior offensive assistant.

Kansas City won Super Bowl LVII earlier this month with a 38-35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

With Alex Smith at quarterback in 2016, Nagy’s offense with the Chiefs was 20th with 343.0 yards per game. One season later, the Chiefs were fifth with 375.4 yards per game.

Nagy led the Bears to the playoffs twice, but they went 0-2. Chicago was 6-11 in 2021 before Nagy was fired.

A former quarterback at Delaware, Nagy served three seasons as an assistant under Reid with the Eagles and then five more under Reid with the Chiefs before leaving for the Bears.

–Field Level Media