REPORT: Cleveland Browns Fire Coordinator Alex Van Pelt And Other From Offensive Staff
In a stunning announcement on Wednesday morning, the Cleveland Browns sacked key members of their offensive coaching staff.
According to Josina Anderson’s early morning report, the Cleveland Browns fired offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, running back coach Stump Mitchell, and tight ends coach T.C. McCartney in an unexpected but maybe necessary action.
On the surface, this is a shocking move by the franchise, which has had excellent offensive coaching stability since Stefanski was hired in 2020, but the shakeup may be thought necessary given the offense’s 28th overall EPA.
The offensive staff had to deal with injuries all over the place, including multiple quarterbacks with whom Van Pelt will work again in 2023 when Drew Petzing left the organization to become the offensive coordinator in Arizona. While the group’s issues were obvious, the Browns plainly felt a change of course was necessary.
When Stefanski was hired in 2020, Van Pelt became the offensive coordinator. He has held the position of quarterback coach concurrently for multiple seasons. While he did not call plays personally on game days, Van Pelt was significantly involved in decision-making on the sideline and throughout the week, formulating game plans and carrying out practice plans. This was Van Pelt’s first offensive coordinator position since 2009, when he took over prior to the season’s start due to a late staff shakeup.
He has worked in the NFL since 2006, after a nine-year playing career.
Mitchell is a known NFL running backs coach, and the move is surprising given the Browns’ success at the position since his arrival in 2020. He had 21 years of NFL coaching experience, and the Browns room liked Mitchell, but the young group’s disappointments in 2023 indicate to the need for a change.
McCartney became the Browns’ tight end coach in 2022 after serving as an offensive assistant for two years. Given David Njoku’s and the room’s performance over the previous two seasons, the decision is quite surprising.
