According to multiple reports including Ian Rapoport of NFL Network and Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Cleveland Browns have chosen their offensive coordinator, preparing to hire Ken Dorsey. Dorsey was most recently the offensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills, but was let go mid-year.
Dorsey spent three seasons as the Browns quarterback from 2006 to 2008. After he concluded his playing career, Dorsey started as a scout with the Carolina Panthers in 2011 and 2012. In 2013, he moved over to the coaching side becoming the Panthers quarterbacks coach. There, he coached Cam Newton who had his MVP season and led the Panthers to the Super Bowl. Dorsey left Carolina and after a one-year stint as assistant athletic director or Florida International, joined the Buffalo Bills starting in 2019 where he coached Josh Allen. He was named offensive coordinator in 2022 after Brian Daboll was hired as the head coach of the New York Giants.
Dorsey’s experience coaching quarterbacks like Newton and Allen is part of his appeal to the Browns. With Deshaun Watson who isn’t quite as big, but is a strong quarterback with the ability to create with his legs, Dorsey has experience in offenses that cater to those strengths. Newton has a close relationship with Watson, so it’s reasonable to assume the two have discussed what Dorsey might be able to offer Watson as a coach as well as his input into the offense.
Dorsey joins a new look offensive staff that recently added Duce Staley to coach running backs and Tommy Rees to coach tight ends. The staff is getting much younger on the offensive side of the ball as it looks to modernize and evolve the offense both to maximize quarterback Deshaun Watson and improve upon what became a poor running game this past season.
It remains to be seen if Dorsey will serve as both quarterbacks coach as well as offensive coordinator, though that would make sense. Not only does Dorsey have that experience, but those are the titles his predecessor Alex Van Pelt held. The Browns could theoretically hire another coach to focus on quarterbacks, but that seemingly is one of the reasons the Browns wanted to hire Dorsey in the first place.
The Browns also recently hired Jacques Cesaire to coach their defensive line. It’s unclear if the Browns plan to make further coaching changes, but there are some questions yet to be answered in terms of roles on the staff.
The Browns were clearly not satisfied to stand pat with the staff they had despite an 11-6 record and the amount of injuries they had. They are acting with urgency, trying to be in a position to make another step forward and compete for a championship. Their hope is this staff is a better fit for the talent they have and where the offense is going.
