Bubba Ventrone is uniquely prepared for the Browns experience, including rival Steelers

BEREA — Browns special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone explained Friday afternoon he hadn't gone into detail with his players about “how personal” facing the Pittsburgh Steelers is for him, but he planned to do so over the weekend.

Yet, some Browns players were already aware of Ventrone's intense feelings about coaching on “Monday Night Football” in Pittsburgh, where he was born and raised.

“He's really heated up for this week. You can tell just by his mentality and everything like that. That's the most that he's really given us, like, 'Yeah, I'm f****** heated up,'” linebacker Tony Fields II told the Beacon Journal.

Ventrone is a perfect fit for the Browns coaching staff, and his intimate knowledge of Cleveland's attitude toward the Steelers is among the reasons.

During Ventrone's weekly news conference, he said he grew up a Steelers fan, but after he became an NFL player, he quickly abandoned his allegiance to the black and gold. On a recent episode of a Browns-produced podcast, Ventrone said, “No one here likes Pittsburgh. Even though I'm from Pittsburgh, I don't like the Steelers at all, obviously.”

Not even Ventrone's younger brother, Ross, playing for the Steelers from 2014-15 leaves him with warm, fuzzy feelings for the franchise.

Of course, the reasons for hatred between the Browns and Steelers span generations.

And the 2023 version of the Browns (1-0) will attempt to prevail in prime time Monday night against the Steelers (0-1) in a crucial AFC North game.

Since the expansion era began in 1999, the Browns are 10-39-1 against the Steelers, including 1-1 in the playoffs. The Browns haven't won a regular-season game in Pittsburgh since Oct. 5, 2003. It's also the last time the Browns won a road game against the Steelers in front of a bona fide crowd of Terrible Towel-waving zealots. Restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic limited attendance to friends and family of the teams during the Browns' 48-37, wild-card playoff win in Pittsburgh on Jan. 10, 2021.

As a Browns special teams ace from 2009-12, Ventrone went 2-6 versus the Steelers, though he was inactive for one of those victories. He'll have a lot of loved ones in attendance Monday at Acrisure Stadium as he returns to the Browns-Steelers series, this time as a coach.

Ventrone, 40, began his NFL career as an undrafted free agent from Villanova University who signed with the New England Patriots in 2005 and eventually ascended from their practice squad. He last played in 2014 for the San Francisco 49ers, entered the coaching ranks with the Patriots and spent the past five seasons as the special teams coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts.

When the Browns hired him in late February to replace their previous special teams coordinator, Mike Priefer, Ventrone brought the juice of a potential future head coach and an impressive track record to Kevin Stefanski's staff.

Ventrone is a rare former Browns player turned Browns coordinator.

The late Jim Shofner played for the Browns from 1958-63, coached their quarterbacks from 1978-80 and became their offensive coordinator and then interim head coach in 1990. Bill Cowher was a Browns player (1980-82) and guided their special teams (1985-86) and secondary (1987-88) before becoming a Pro Football Hall of Fame head coach of the Steelers (1992-2006).

“I love seeing great players become great coaches, and [Ventrone] is well on his way! He brings the same passion, leadership and understanding for the game as a coach as he did as a player, and I love seeing that,” former Browns special teamer and Ventrone teammate Jason Trusnik wrote in a recent text exchange with the Beacon Journal.

The life Ventrone experienced as a back-end-of-the-roster NFL player prepared him to expect the unexpected as a coordinator, and the Browns have already benefited from his readiness.

Rampant injuries make football the most unpredictable sport. And special teams is the most volatile facet of the game because many of its contributors dwell on the roster bubble.

“He's thinking of the next step, the next step and the next step,” Fields said. “Football's like a game of chess. You've got to be looking to the next piece, or you can get left behind.”

Shortly before this season started, the Browns lost former Pro Bowl returner Jakeem Grant Sr. to a season-ending knee injury on Aug. 26 against the Kansas City Chiefs. In the same preseason game, Cleveland's kicking situation went further down the tubes, prompting Browns General Manager Andrew Berry to cut Cade York and trade for Dustin Hopkins on Aug. 28.

Still, the Browns performed well on special teams in Sunday's season-opening 24-3 win over the defending AFC North champion Cincinnati Bengals. Hopkins underscored the effort by making all three of his field goals (42, 34 and 43 yards) during a rainy day on Cleveland's lakefront.

“You're going to have to adapt,” Ventrone said. “That's why I'm in the position that I'm in. I'm trying to do the best I can with the players available. If someone's not available in that instance, you've got to do your best to figure it out.”

Ventrone has definitely figured out how to connect with his players. He can relate to the pressure they encounter, so he realizes lightening the mood from time to time is valuable to morale.

“He knows how the energy levels can be,” linebacker Sione Takitaki said.

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It's why Ventrone searches the internet for the high school highlight film of players and shows the footage once a week throughout the season. He began the tradition in Indianapolis and brought it to Cleveland. Last week, Ventrone featured backup running back Jerome Ford, who said the video clips “brought a little energy” to his teammates during one of Ventrone's meetings.

“In high school, Jerome scored on every play,” linebacker Matthew Adams said. “Just having that mentality, remembering who you are and where you came from, it's good.”

Ventrone certainly hasn't forgotten his Pittsburgh roots or passion for the Browns-Steelers rivalry.

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Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns' Bubba Ventrone 'heated up' to coach against Steelers