Mike Vrabel is the big name in coaching rumors but Bubba Ventrone is among 3 other Browns coaches of interest
While it was unlikely that Cleveland Browns HC Kevin Stefanski was on the hot seat before the Week 12 victory on Thursday Night Football, that conversation is pretty much over now. A number of national reporters have noted Stefanski was safe and that no changes are expected despite fan and local media rumors and speculation.
The coaching carousel is expected to be busy this offseason with a number of coaching changes, head coach and beyond, all over the league. The New Orleans Saints and New York Jets have gotten a head start on the process. (Coaches whose team is “New” might be a little worried.
As Browns fans know, finding a good head coach is hard. The NFL is stubbornly focused on offensive and defensive coordinators for those positions despite very little overlap in skills of a playcaller and the leader of the whole team.
Cleveland consultant Mike Vrabel is expected to be a hot name around the NFL this offseason. Vrabel was once again noted as a name to watch by Sports Illustrated but three others were noted as coaches to watch as well:
Bubba Ventrone, who interviewed for the Colts’ head coaching job after Frank Reich’s firing, is a respected NFL veteran with a long career playing for the Patriots, Jets and 49ers. Ventrone has coached alongside Bill Belichick, Frank Reich and Kevin Stefanski.
Ventrone being up for head coaching positions after the Browns special teams have struggled would be an example of a team focusing on leadership skills over the production of a unit.
As a play-caller at Notre Dame and Alabama, Tommy Rees, a former NCAA quarterback himself, was known for bringing out the best of players. Rees helped mold a young Jalen Milroe at Alabama. He also oversaw the Ian Book era at Notre Dame, where Book became the second-most prolific passer in school history and got drafted by the Saints.
Rees was noted as a part of the newcomer group as he would be in line for an offensive coordinator job in the near future after having that role in college at big schools.
RB coach Duce Staley was among a long list of up-and-comers but would likely need to find a coordinator position to take the next steps as a coach after a very good playing career.