Andy Janovich wasn't sure how to feel when he received the call from Denver Broncos general manager John Elway in March.
The call lasted less than a minute, but the message signified a pivotal change in Janovich's career.
"Hey, I got some news for you," Janovich recalled Elway saying. "We're trading you to the Browns."
"Oh," said Janovich, who spent his first four NFL seasons in Denver. "OK, sounds good."
And that was it.
Janovich, a fullback, was done in Denver, and he didn't know much about where he was going next. Not only did he know little about Cleveland, but he wasn't sure how fullbacks, which have become an increasingly rare breed in football, would fit in the Browns' offense.
So, he did some research and talked with Browns Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. It didn't take long for Janovich to realize his role with the Browns actually would be quite big.
"When I really started digging in to researching them, that's when I found out what I was going to get into," Janovich said in a recent edition of Working From Home. "I was like, 'Yeah, this is going to be good.' After learning everything that's going on, I'm more than excited to be a part of the Browns and the offense they're installing. That's something I've been in before and I excel in, so I'm really excited about it."
Check out photos of Fullback Andy Janovich
Denver Broncos running back Andy Janovich (32) runs during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018 in Denver, Colo. (Greg Trott via AP)
Nebraska fullback Andy Janovich (35) is pursued by Wisconsin nose tackle Olive Sagapolu (65) and nose tackle Conor Sheehy (94) as he runs for a 55 yard touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015. Wisconsin won 23-21. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
Denver Broncos fullback Andy Janovich runs against the Houston Texans during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 24, 2016, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos fullback Andy Janovich (32) enters the field from the tunnel during player introductions before an NFL regular season football game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019 in Denver. The Chiefs won, 30-6. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Denver Broncos fullback Andy Janovich (32) carries the ball during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, in Denver. The Chiefs beat the Broncos 30-6. (Cooper Neill via AP)
Denver Broncos fullback Andy Janovich (32) during the National Anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019, in Denver. The Broncos won 24-19. (Aaron Doster via AP)
Denver Broncos running back Andy Janovich runs for yardage against the Kansas City Chiefs during a NFL football game, Thursday Oct. 17, 2019 in Denver. The Chiefs defeated the Broncos, 30-6. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
Denver Broncos fullback Andy Janovich (32) enters the field during player introductions prior to kick off of the NFL game between the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs in Denver, Thursday, October 17, 2019. (Eric Bakke via AP)
Denver Broncos fullback Andy Janovich (32) during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019, in Denver. The Broncos won 24-19. (Aaron Doster via AP)
Denver Broncos fullback Andy Janovich scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Broncos fullback Andy Janovich (32) heads to the end zone on a 20 yard reception for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of NFL game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, December 30, 2018, in Denver. (Eric Bakke via AP)
FILE - In this Aug. 11, 2018, file photo, Denver Broncos fullback Andy Janovich watches during the second half in an NFL football preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings, in Denver. Janovich has signed a three-year extension with the Denver Broncos worth $5.7 million. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey, File)
Denver Broncos fullback Andy Janovich (32) waits in the hall before introductions before the start of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
This is a photo of Andy Janovich of the Denver Broncos NFL football team. This image reflects the Denver Broncos active roster as of Thursday, June 6, 2019. (AP Photo)
Denver Broncos fullback Andy Janovich (32) during an NFL regular season football game against the Houston Texans on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018 in Denver. The Texans won, 19-17. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Denver Broncos fullback Andy Janovich visits with an armed services member before the start of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Josie Lepe)
Denver Broncos fullback Andy Janovich walks down a hallway towards the field before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos fullback Andy Janovich (32) takes the field prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Monday, Sept. 11, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos Andy Janovich (32) during first quarter action against the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL game at Sports Authority Field in Denver, Colo. November 27, 2016. (Eric Bakke via AP)
Denver Broncos fullback Andy Janovich (32) scores a touchdown as New York Jets inside linebacker Demario Davis (56) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)
Nebraska fullback Andy Janovich (35) during the first half of the Foster Farms Bowl NCAA college football game against UCLA Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Denver Broncos running back Andy Janovich (32) greets teammates during player introductions before an NFL preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday, August 27, 2016, in Denver, Co. The Broncos won the game, 17-9. (Greg Trott via AP)
Denver Broncos fullback Andy Janovich (32) runs onto the field during player introductions prior to an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Denver. The Bengals defeated the Broncos, 20-17. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Nebraska fullback Andy Janovich (35) runs with the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Southern Miss in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015. Nebraska won 36-28. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
Denver Broncos fullback Andy Janovich (32) during an NFL regular season football game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017 in Carson, Calif. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Nebraska fullback Andy Janovich (35) is tackled by Illinois safety James Crawford (5) during the second quarter of an NCAA football game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Bradley Leeb)
Nebraska running back Andy Janovich runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Nebraska fullback Andy Janovich (35) runs for a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015. Wisconsin won 23-21. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
Denver Broncos fullback Andy Janovich (32) runs the ball for a touchdown during the 2016 NFL Kickoff football game against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016 in Denver. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Nebraska running back Andy Janovich runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Denver Broncos fullback Andy Janovich (32) during an NFL regular season football game against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017 in Oakland, Calif. The Raiders won, 21-14. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Denver Broncos rookie fullback Andy Janovich during the team's NFL rookie camp football practice Saturday, May 7, 2016, in the team's headquarters in Englewood, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Nebraska fullback Andy Janovich makes a reception during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa, Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, in Iowa City, Iowa. Nebraska won 13-7. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Nebraska running back Andy Janovich runs the 40-yard dash during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
The fullback is one of the most unique positions in the NFL. It's essentially an additional running back that carries a heavier emphasis on blocking, but they are still deployed to occasionally run and catch the ball for short pickups. Not every team carries a fullback, and the Browns haven't had a starter at the position since Danny Vitale started six games in 2017.
That will change under coach Kevin Stefanski. Last year as offensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings, Stefanski used fullback C.J. Ham in 34 percent of his offensive snaps, second of all fullbacks in the league. He needs fullbacks for his zone-running scheme to operate at peak efficiency, so it was no surprise to see the Browns acquire Janovich, who played in seven games last season before suffering a season-ending elbow injury in Week 11.
Janovich has shown plenty of capability as a runner and pass-catcher, too. He's averaged just over 10 yards per catch and four yards per carry in 35 total touches, serviceable numbers that could see a significant increase in Stefanski's offense.
"I'm really excited to add Andy into our group," Stefanski said after the trade was official. "He's a schematic fit to what we want to be. He has all the intangibles you think of when you think of fullbacks. He's as tough as they come. He's a team player through and through. Fits the mentality of what we're trying to be."
Janovich's role in Cleveland will be to elevate the play of Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. The Chubb-Hunt running back tandem is already one of the best in the NFL — both have made Pro Bowl appearances and Chubb was 47 yards away from winning the league's rushing title last season. In the passing game, Janovich will be asked to make key blocks and be a cog in play-action passes from Mayfield.
The Browns have Pro-Bowl promise all across the field on offense, and Janovich is eager to get to work with what he hopes will be the most talented group he's been a part of.
"It's unbelievable," he said. "You just look at it and think this can't be real. This is a dream offense."
It's certainly a welcomed change for Janovich, who has been doing his work in the Browns' virtual offseason program from his home in Nebraska.
When he arrives in Cleveland, though, Janovich knows his talents will be maximized. He can't wait.
"Just the fact that I'm here and considered to be here," he said, "I'm just like, 'All right, let's go to work and let's get this done.'"
