Sources: Browns hire former Bills offensive coordinator As OC, Dorsey
Ken Dorsey, who used to be the offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills, has been hired by the Cleveland Browns to be their new offense coordinator.
This month, the Browns or Van Pelt, who was also the quarterbacks coach, broke up because the team was looking for a new voice to work with Deshaun Watson.
Alex Van Pelt was Cleveland’s offensive coach for four years before Dorsey took over. But since he took over as head coach in 2020, Kevin Stefanski has called the Browns’ offensive plays.
After a 5–5 start, the Bills sacked Dorsey on November 14 because the offense was having a hard time.
As the AFC East champion, Buffalo won with the help of Joe Brady, who was the interim offensive coordinator. Brady’s title was taken away by the Bills on Sunday.
When Brian Daboll was hired as head coach at the New York Giants in 2022, Dorsey was promoted to offensive coordinator for Buffalo.
When Daboll left his job, Dorsey was recommended by star QB Josh Allen to take over as the Bills’ quarterbacks coach.
But this season, from Week 5 until he was fired after Week 10, Dorsey’s offense never scored more than 25 points. Allen and the Bills had a lot of turnovers.
Dorsey’s job in Cleveland will be to help Watson get back on track after two rough seasons while playing for the Browns.
This is also Watson’s first game back after surgery to end the season on his throwing shoulder.
Since he was traded to Cleveland two years ago, Watson has only played in 11 games. Also, his QBR with the Browns is only 41.9 (on a scale of 0 to 100), which is near the bottom of the NFL during that time.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network said on Sunday that sources say Cleveland is hiring ex-Ken Dorsey to be its new offensive coordinator.
After being dismissed by the Bills in the middle of 2023, Dorsey gets another chance as an NFL offensive coordinator.
Alex Van Pelt was in charge of his position in Cleveland before Kevin Stefanski took over as head coach before the 2020 season. After Van Pelt’s third season as head coach, the Browns fired him.
The Bills continued to score points and gain yards in all 28 games that Dorsey was in charge.
However, their offensive problems at the start of the season resulted in a change that helped them win six of their last seven games and make the playoffs.
In 2023, the Browns made it to the playoffs despite having a lot of offensive line injuries. However, their offense had a rough game against the Houston Texans in the Super Wild Card Round, losing 45–14.
Deshaun Watson, the Browns’ quarterback, hurt his shoulder in Week 9 and will miss the rest of the season.
Dorsey should have a fully healthy Watson at quarterback in 2023. The Browns lost a lot of players at the end of the 2023 season. They also lost quarterback Nick Chubb and either starting tackles.
To be exact, Dorsey played quarterback for the Browns from 2006 to 2008. In five games, Dorsey completed 43 of 92 routes for 370 yards, no touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He started three of those games.
A source on the Cleveland Browns’ team said Sunday that Ken Dorsey has been hired as the new offensive coordinator after a long search.
Dorsey interviewed the Browns earlier this month. He used to play for Cleveland and was in charge of offense in Buffalo last year.
In November of last year, the Bills fired Dorsey, and the Browns were looking for a new offensive coordinator following the firing of Alex Van Pelt shortly after their loss in the wild-card round.
Since 2015, the 2023 Browns were the first team to win a game with four different starting quarterbacks. That’s a big reason why Kevin Stefanski might win his second consecutive NFL Coach of the Year award on February 8.
But the Browns fired Van Pelt or two additional offensive assistants because they don’t think Deshaun Watson has found a consistent high gear with the offense.
Watson has started 12 games in two seasons and is still under contract for three more. Because Watson had surgery on his shoulder in November 2023, his season was over.
Watson should be ready for the start of the offseason program, and Dorsey will be able to teach Cam Newton and Josh Allen what he knows.