Taking a look at what each Browns Offensive Coordinator candidate has in common
The Cleveland Browns have been hard at work trying to find their next Offensive Coordinator while recently hiring former Rice University HC Mike Bloomgren to be their new Offensive Line Coach.
The Browns have officially interviewed or have plans to interview:
- Former Notre Dame OC and Current TE Coach Tommy Rees
- Dolphins Passing Game Coordinator/QB Coach Darrell Bevell
- Seahawks QB Coach Charles London
- Falcons TE Coach Kevin Koger
Amongst the four current interviewees, only one of them has real experience calling plays in the NFL, Darrell Bevell. Though some might see this as a problem, it’s really not when it comes to Cleveland’s situation.
Kevin Stefanski has a long history of calling plays and it’s safe to say that all signs point to him taking back the duty in 2025 regardless of who the team hires as Offensive Coordinator.
The common denominator amongst all the coaching candidates that the Browns have shown interest in revolves around the run game, especially when you include Mike Bloomgren’s addition.
- Rees’ specialty is based around motion and pre-snap movement to help create advantages in the run game as well as marrying RPO concepts to already established run schemes.
- Bevell has run an offense that led the NFL in rushing, and he’s been around an offense that led the league in passing. He knows how to be a “chameleon” when it comes to game planning and play design but is traditionally a run-first type of coordinator.
Bevell is an underrated name for the #Browns OC search. Fairly long history with Stefanski in Minnesota.
Very similar offensive tendencies with a run-first, west coast-style passing game. #DawgPound #NFL https://t.co/58Z1D5LXkI
— Matt Wilson (@CoachWilson66) January 9, 2025
- London was a career running backs coach prior to joining Atlanta in 2021 as a QB coach. He’s worked with stud RBs Arian Foster and Lamar Miller in Houston as well as Jordan Howard in Chicago. He has a propensity for the ground game and running back development.
- Koger (from Toledo, OH) is most likely getting interviewed due to his assumed knowledge of different blocking and run game strategies that come along with being a TE coach. Regarding “X’s & O’s” experience, he’s been around offenses that closely mirror what Kevin Stefanski likes to do. Koger was involved in a lot of 11P/12P, play-action-heavy schemes with the Chargers from 2021 -2023.
- Bloomgren is a natural OL Coach and is known for being an orchestrator of one of the most dominant run game stretches in college football history with Stanford from 2011-2017. He’s also quietly been a hot commodity in the professional world, having turned down multiple NFL opportunities over the past few seasons.
It’s blatantly obvious that Cleveland is doing everything it can to try and “fix” its run game in 2025, which is definitely a step in the right direction. Everything that the Browns want to do offensively begins with a successful ground game and being able to marry passing concepts with play/run-action based on that success.
Kevin Stefanski’s offense is most effective and efficient when Cleveland can run the football, and it looks like Andrew Berry and Co. agree based on who they’re interviewing so far.
Do you think Cleveland is interviewing the right type of candidates? Join fellow Browns fans in the comment section below.