Tommy Rees could be the perfect OC fit for the Browns and here are 4 reasons why
The Cleveland Browns have officially decided to promote former passing game specialist and tight ends coach Tommy Rees to Offensive Coordinator for the 2025 season.
On the surface, this probably wasn’t the most exciting move for the Browns faithful but it makes a lot of sense for the organization.
Today we’re going to look at the four main reasons why Cleveland decided to promote Rees to OC over other candidates such as Darrell Bevell, Klint Kubiak, and Charles London.
Consistent ability to raise the “floor” of QB play
One of his most sought-after traits is that Rees has always been able to develop and elevate the play of quarterbacks wherever he’s been. He made the likes of Ian Book, Jack Coan, and Drew Pyne look like solid FBS quarterbacks at Notre Dame and as we all know, they’re not.
Current highly-rated 2025 NFL Draft prospect and Alabama QB Jalen Milroe had his best season under Rees in 2023, and Milroe credits him with the bulk of his development as a player.
He’s a “players” coach
According to multiple reports at both the pro and collegiate level, players have a great relationship with him, and his youth allows him to relate to players and coach them in different ways.
The fact that Nick Saban said this about him is all the proof needed in this subject:
Nick Saban on #Browns new OC Tommy Rees back in ‘23.
That’ll play…#DawgPound pic.twitter.com/NhmaI0zfYP
— CLEology (@_CLEology) January 14, 2025
Despite being a former QB, he leans on the run game quite a bit
Though innovation and implementation of unique passing concepts and playcalling have been his trademark, his ability to effectively run the ball has always been a key cog in his offenses.
Rees’ Notre Dame and Alabama offenses averaged 179.3 rushing yards per game over his four years at the collegiate level and his run/pass splits were fairly staggering. Over that same period, his offenses averaged 39.4 rush attempts per game to 28.5 pass attempts.
That 1.38 run/pass attempt ratio gives us a good idea of both his past tendencies and similarities to what the Browns want to do going forward. Much like Kevin Stefanski, Rees wants to win by running the football while mixing in effective passing concepts to work off and supplement the ground game.
He knows how to win
As an Offensive Coordinator at the highest level of collegiate football, he has a career W/L record of 42-10.
Yes, the NFL is a different animal but the fact that he’s led huge teams to such success shows that he knows what he’s doing. He’s a football and “X’s & O’s” junkie that any team would want as a part of their organization, hence why multiple teams were after him before his promotion in Cleveland.
Do you think Tommy Rees is the right guy for the job? Join fellow Browns fans in the comment section below.