The Cleveland Browns have made some changes to their coaching staff, including the firing of offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. Van Pelt confirmed the news to ESPN, stating that he is proud of his time with the team. The Athletic also confirmed the news through a team source.
Along with Van Pelt, the Browns also fired running backs coach Stump Mitchell and chose not to retain tight ends coach T.C. McCartney. These changes come as a surprise considering the success the Browns had in 2023 despite constant personnel changes. However, it is not shocking as the team is still trying to build an offense around quarterback Deshaun Watson for the future.
Coach Kevin Stefanski is likely to receive a long-term extension, and he has earned the right to choose his own assistants for the team’s future. Multiple team sources have cited “moving parts” regarding Wednesday’s news and the team’s changes, so it is best to wait and see the revamped staff before drawing conclusions.
Van Pelt and McCartney joined the Browns in 2020, the same year Stefanski was hired. Mitchell joined a year before Stefanski arrived. Van Pelt, a former quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, transitioned to coaching after his playing days and held various roles with the Bills before joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2010. He then worked as a quarterbacks coach with the Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, and Cincinnati Bengals before joining the Browns.
Stefanski will continue to call the plays, and there are unlikely to be major changes schematically with different coaches helping him develop game plans. The Browns are looking for more production from their runners and pass-catchers, and they are eager to see if they can have a full season with Watson for the offense to develop and evolve. The emergence of David Njoku is a positive sign, and how the team handles Nick Chubb’s contract and injury rehab will be a major offseason storyline.
In conclusion, the Browns have made changes to their coaching staff, including the firing of offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. These changes come as the team looks to build an offense around Deshaun Watson and give coach Kevin Stefanski the opportunity to choose his own assistants. The team is eager to see how the revamped staff will contribute to the development and success of the offense.