Cleveland Browns hiring Ken Dorsey as offensive coordinator

BEREA — The Browns are bringing home one of their former quarterbacks to be their new offensive coordinator.

Ken Dorsey will be hired as the team's new offensive coordinator, a source confirmed for the Beacon Journal. He spent the last year and a half as the Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator before being fired after a Week 10 loss to the Denver Broncos dropped their record to 5-5.

Dorsey, 42, was a Browns quarterback from 2006-08.

The offensive coordinator post had been open since Alex Van Pelt, who had been with head coach Kevin Stefanski in that role since 2020, was let go by the Browns days after an AFC wild card loss to the Houston Texans. Van Pelt was part of an offensive staff shake-up that also included running back Stump Mitchell and tight ends coach T.C. McCartney.

Dorsey interviewed for the job last week. He was one of five interviews the Browns conducted for the job, along with Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, Houston Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson, ex-Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson and Seattle Seahawks offensive line coach Andy Dickerson.

Former Carolina Panthers assistant head coach/running backs coach Duce Staley will replace Mitchell. The Browns and former University of Alabama offensive coordinator Tommy Rees were working toward a deal for him to be the next tight ends coach, with additional responsibilities in the development of the pass game.

The Browns also hired Houston Texans defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire for the same position on Saturday. He replaces Ben Bloom, who may still be re-assigned on the defensive staff.

Will Kevin Stefanski give up play-calling duties to Ken Dorsey?

Now comes Dorsey to fill the last, and arguably most important, of those vacancies. It's a hire that could also have a seismic impact on the Browns from a game-operations perspective with regards to the age-old question of "Who's calling the plays?"

Stefanski had called the plays over his first four seasons with the Browns. A source did not say if he was going to cede those duties to Dorsey.

Although Stefanski was not directly asked that question in his end-of-season news conference the day after the Houston loss — and hasn't spoken since the staff changes were made — general manager Andrew Berry was asked about it during his season wrap-up availability.

"So it's a good question," Berry said. "I'd say, No. 1, that's something that we always talk about every offseason in kind of the self-assessment. Part of that depends on where we land with staff and what Kevin's preferences are. Ultimately that's going to be his decision as he constructs a staff. We've mentioned multiple times, I think that's one of Kevin's strengths, but how that operates from year to year, that's ultimately something that we reassess."

Ken Dorsey takes fall for Buffalo Bills' struggles early this season

The 42-year-old Dorsey was fired during the season after the Bills suffered the loss to the Broncos. The Bills offense, at the time, was ranked seventh in the league in total yards, seventh in passing yards, eighth in points scored and 13th in rushing, but had struggled as part of a 2-4 stretch.

Quarterback Josh Allen, at the time Dorsey was fired, was tied for first in the league in touchdown passes (19), second in completions (246) and attempts (350), third in completion percentage (70.3%), fourth in passing yards (2,600 yards) and 12th in passer rating (96.6). However, he had thrown a league-high 11 interceptions in that time as well.

The Bills' struggled at times to consistently move the ball during that early season malaise, especially on the ground. However, their biggest problem were 18 turnovers, which was tied for second in the NFL behind the Browns' 19 through Week 10.

“We need to be a confident offensive football team, and find consistent production, and that’s really what it came down to,” Buffalo coach Sean McDermott told reporters at the time of Dorsey's firing. “I’m as frustrated as anyone out there. We’re trying to win one game at a time right now, and we get a chance to right the ship.”

Dorsey's interim replacement, Joe Brady, was given the full-time role earlier Sunday. Buffalo finished the season fourth in total yards, seventh in rushing and eighth in passing, turning the ball over 28 times.

Allen finished with a league-high 18 interceptions. Buffalo won six of its final seven games in the regular season, including their final five. Allen finished 11th in completion percentage (66.5%), fourth in yards (4,306 yards), tied for fifth in touchdown passes (29) and 16th in passer rating (92.2).

Dorsey was in his second season as Bills offensive coordinator, having been promoted from quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator to the post when Brian Daboll was hired as the head coach of the New York Giants early in 2022. He had been the Buffalo quarterbacks coach since 2019.

Buffalo was a top-eight offense in multiple categories in Dorsey's first season as offensive coordinator. The Bills were second in total yards, seventh in rushing yards, sixth in passing yards and fourth in scoring, while being the most efficient third-down offense in the league.

Prior to going to Buffalo, Dorsey's NFL coaching resume included time as Panthers quarterbacks coach from 2013-17. He also served as a pro scout from 2011-12 with Carolina.

The former University of Miami (Fla.) quarterback played six seasons in the NFL. His first three years were with the San Francisco 49ers, and he then spent his final three seasons as a player with the Browns.

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns hiring Ken Dorsey as new offensive coordinator