The Cleveland Browns have found their next offensive coordinator. After conducting a search for a new leader on offense, the club decided to promote passing game specialist and tight ends coach Tommy Rees to the position, according to NFL Media. This makes Rees, 32, one of the youngest coordinators in the NFL.
Promotion comes after the Browns former offensive coordinator fired Ken Dorsey after just one season on the job. Dorsey’s departure came after he and head coach Kevin Stefanski struggled to find consistent success on offense during Cleveland’s 2024 campaign.
While injuries combined with poor quarterback play helped plague the offense, there was also a struggle between Stefanski and Dorsey when it came to play-calling duties. Stefanski began the year as the Browns’ offensive play-caller, but then gave those duties to Dorsey in Week 8. Even with that shakeup, Cleveland’s offense left little to be desired, ranking last in the league in points. per game (15.2) and 31st in total yards per play (4.6).
Rees will therefore be tasked with working alongside Stefanski to help rejuvenate the unit. The key question with their blossoming relationship is whether Rees will be assigned play-calling duties or if that will revert to Stefanski.
Rees gets this promotion after coaching one season with the Browns. Before that, he was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Alabama (2023) and Notre Dame (2020-2022). Before committing to Rees, the Browns interviewed a handful of outside candidates such as former Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who worked with Stefanski in Minnesota.
Had Cleveland gone in a different direction at OC, it would have been curious to see where Rees ended up, as there were some rumors that he could join newly hired Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel’s staff in New England. Vrabel spent the 2023 season with the Browns as a coach and personnel consultant, which is where he forged the connection with Rees.
With Rees now solidified, the next big questions on offense will revolve around what the Browns do at quarterback. Starter Deshaun Watson suffered another Achilles tear, putting his 2025 season in doubt. With the franchise armed with the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Cleveland could look to pair its young OC with a quarterback of young countryside to develop together.
