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Browns name Gregg Williams interim head coach, Freddie Kitchens promoted to offensive coordinator

Shalise Manza Young
Columnist

We now have a better picture of how the Cleveland Browns are going to move forward after their own Black Monday, which saw them fire both head coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley.

Gregg Williams named interim head coach

Via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns will have defensive coordinator Gregg Williams serve as interim head coach. Williams is in his second year in charge of the team’s defense.

With young stars like Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward, the Browns lead the league in takeaways, with 22, and have one of the better third-down units in the league, allowing conversions on 34.9 percent of chances (38-of-109).

Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has been named interim head coach after the team fired Hue Jackson on Monday. (AP)
Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has been named interim head coach after the team fired Hue Jackson on Monday. (AP)

They aren’t faring as well statistically in terms of yards allowed; before this weekend, they were ranked 28th in total yards allowed, 28th in rushing yards allowed and 26th in passing yards allowed.

It’s been well over a decade since Williams’ only head coaching gig, when he was tasked with leading the Buffalo Bills from 2001-03. In that time, the Bills were 17-31.

The 60-year-old Williams is somewhat of a controversial figure; he did not coach in 2012 after being suspended by the NFL for the bounty program he had while the defensive coordinator with the New Orleans Saints. Williams headed a program that paid players for injuring opponents, and the bounties got higher in the playoffs.

Williams was also investigated for running a similar program with Washington.

Freddie Kitchens promoted to offensive coordinator

Additionally, running backs coach/associate head coach Freddie Kitchens was promoted to offensive coordinator. This is the first season in Cleveland for the 43-year-old, who spent the previous 11 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals in various roles.

In 2017, Kitchens was the Cardinals’ running backs coach, but from 2013-16 he was quarterbacks coach, working with Carson Palmer, and from 2007-12 he was tight ends coach.

This is the first time he will run an offense at any level.

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