The Cleveland Browns are officially back in the coaching market - and not just for a new head coach. Whoever takes the reins in Cleveland will also need to bring in a new offensive coordinator, as Tommy Rees is reportedly heading south to join the Atlanta Falcons and reunite with Kevin Stefanski.
Rees, who stepped in as the Browns’ play-caller midway through the 2025 season, had been in the mix for the team’s head coaching vacancy. He was granted an initial interview but didn’t move forward in the process. Now, he’s following Stefanski to Atlanta, leaving the Browns with yet another key vacancy to fill.
This marks the second staff departure for Cleveland in a matter of days. Wide receivers coach Chad O'Shea left earlier in the week to join Andy Reid’s staff in Kansas City. That’s two offensive assistants out the door as the Browns look to rebuild a unit that struggled mightily last season.
Rees originally joined the Browns in 2024 as a tight ends and pass game specialist. He was elevated to offensive coordinator before the 2025 campaign and took over play-calling duties from Stefanski starting in Week 10. It was a tall task - and the results were mixed at best - but context matters here.
Rees had to navigate a rocky quarterback situation that never really stabilized. In Weeks 10 and 11, he worked with rookie Dillon Gabriel, who helped the Browns put up 20 points in a win over the Jets and 16 in a loss to the Ravens - all of which came in the first half before Gabriel exited with a concussion.
From there, it was Shedeur Sanders under center. The rookie showed flashes, leading Cleveland to a win over the Raiders in his first start. But the offense sputtered down the stretch, dropping the next four games as the unit failed to find any rhythm or identity.
By season’s end, the numbers painted a bleak picture: 31st in points scored, 30th in total yards, 30th in first downs, 31st in passing yards, 30th in passing touchdowns, 29th in interceptions thrown, and 27th in rushing yards. Simply put, the Browns were one of the least productive offenses in the league.
But while the stats are damning, pinning the entire offensive collapse on Rees would be overly simplistic. He was dealt a tough hand - an unstable quarterback room, a thin receiving corps, and a midseason transition in play-calling responsibilities. That’s not exactly a recipe for instant success.
Now, with Rees off to Atlanta and O’Shea in Kansas City, the Browns’ next head coach will have the opportunity - and the challenge - to build a new offensive identity from the ground up. It’s a critical offseason in Cleveland, and the decisions made over the next few weeks will shape the trajectory of a franchise still searching for consistency on the offensive side of the ball.