The Browns will see some changes to their offensive coaching staff for the 2025 season.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed Sunday morning that the Browns have moved on from Ken Dorsey as offensive coordinator and Andy Dickerson as the offensive line coach.
"I think the world of those two guys as people and as coaches, but I'm going to go in a different direction," Stefanski said. "I'm appreciative of their hard work as well."
Dorsey was brought in as the Browns new offensive coordinator in Jan. 2024, and he worked with Stefanski to revamp the Browns offense. Yet, over the course of the 2024 season, they struggled to find success on the offensive side of the ball.
Cleveland dealt with injuries to their offensive line, starting eight different offensive line combinations – including seven in the first eight games.
They also dealt with change at quarterback as they started four different quarterbacks over the course of the season. QB Deshaun Watson played the first seven games of the season before he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 7 against the Bengals. QB Jameis Winston then took over in Week 8 and started seven games. Then, QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson took over and started Week 16 and 17 before QB Bailey Zappe earned the final start of the season in Week 18.
As the Browns struggled throughout the season, one of the in-season changes Stefanski made was in play-calling duties. Stefanski has been the Browns play caller since he became head coach in 2020; but starting in Week 8, Dorsey took over play calling.
Yet, their offensive issues persisted over the remainder of the season. The Browns, who finished with a 3-14 record, were last in total points this season, averaging 15.2 points per game. They averaged 94.6 rushing yards per game – ranked 28th in the league – and 20th in average passing yards per game at 206.2.
"We have to play better on offense in a bunch of different areas," Stefanski said. "I don't think it's as simple as just one saying running effectively, that is a component of it. But we need to do a better job of setting our team up for success."
With the 2024 season officially over, Stefanski said they made the decision to move on from Dorsey because of the need to improve on the offensive side of the ball.
"I think there is a lot that we need to look into and get fixed," Stefanski said. "This is never about one person – or in this case, about one coach or another coach. This is something that we all own, and we all share in that. But we have to look at all of it."
Stefanski said they will begin their search for a new offensive coordinator immediately. He will wait until he goes through the process of talking with coordinator candidates before a decision is made on play calling for the 2025 season. Stefanski said play calling experience for the offensive coordinator isn't necessarily a requirement and is staying open-minded as they go through the process.
In their search for a new offensive coordinator, Stefanski said he wants to get back to a sound offensive system that will give them a chance to win games. He believes they have the talent on the roster to do so in the 2025 season.
Stefanski said as they begin their search, there are people currently in the building that he will talk to, but they will also include outside candidates in their pool of interviews. That process to find candidates will include himself, Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry and others in the front office.
"We are looking for somebody to come in and help us share in a vision where we can go play sound, explosive offensive football," Stefanski said. "I feel confident that we'll be able to do that."
Another potential change as part of their search for a new offensive coordinator could be in the addition of a separate quarterbacks coach. In 2024, Dorsey not only served as offensive coordinator, but also as the quarterback coach. Stefanski said he has to work through that decision, but said there is a possibility of hiring a quarterback coach as well.
The main goal for Stefanski in their changes is to improve as a team. After going 11-6 in 2023 and making the playoffs, to falling to 3-14 in 2024, Stefanski is searching for how they can fix the challenges they faced this season and be a better football team in 2025.
"We're going to get to fixing this and that's what we're going to do. We're going to get back to work," Stefanski said. "We need to improve on the offensive side of the ball, and that's what we plan to do."
