UPDATED: Browns Coaching Hires, Interviews and Potential Cleveland Browns Offensive Coordinator Candidates

The Cleveland Browns fired three offensive coaches just days after losing to the Houston Texans in the wild card round on January 13.

Josina Anderson of CBS Sports reported on Wednesday morning, January 17, that the organization had opted to remove offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. The Browns will also part ways with running backs coach Stump Mitchell and tight ends coach T.C. McCartney.

With the new offensive coordinator position open, Kevin Stefanski will look to add a sharp and innovative offensive mind to the staff.

The Browns have acted quickly, making two offensive hires.

Duce Staley, the running backs coach, has interviewed with both the Browns and the Jets. He is expected to accept the position in Cleveland.

Staley was an Eagles player from 2011 until 2020. In 2021, he joined the Lions to serve as deputy head coach and running backs coach. He continued to serve in the same capacity with the Panthers until the start of the 2023 season, under head coach Frank Reich. However, he was fired on November 27, along with Reich and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown.

Rees worked as Alabama’s offensive coordinator for one season under Nick Saban. After Saban announced his retirement, new coach Kalen DeBoer declined to retain Rees.It’s not surprising that Rees wasn’t unemployed for long. He formerly served as Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator and has a great reputation.

The Browns position will be his second in the NFL. In 2016, he served as an offensive assistant with the Chargers.

As of Wednesday, the Browns had interviewed three applicants for the offensive coordinator position.