CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Browns, anticipating a potential major departure, filled one of the voids on their coaching staff.
As the new running backs coach, coach Kevin Stefanski has brought aboard 10-year NFL veteran Duce Staley, a source familiar with the move told The Associated Press on Wednesday. In Carolina the previous season, Staley was let go.
The person who spoke to the AP under condition of anonymity claimed that Staley, who also had an interview with the New York Jets, will take over for the recently sacked Stump Mitchell. The Browns will not announce on any coaching changes until Stefanski has completed his staff.
Only a few days after the Browns were defeated 45-14 by the Houston Texans in the AFC playoffs, tight ends coach T.C. McCartney and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt were fired last week, leaving Mitchell with one year remaining on his contracts.
Staley, 48, will take over a running back group that has some uncertainty surrounding it. After undergoing two knee surgeries to repair torn knee ligaments suffered in Week 2, former Pro Bowler Nick Chubb is anticipated to miss the start of the next season.
Next season, Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr. will be back, but it’s unclear if the team will sign Kareem Hunt again. Hunt was cut by Cleveland but came back after Nick Chubb suffered an injury and scored nine touchdowns.
Staley played for Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, accumulating 5,785 yards.
Well-liked offensive line coach Bill Callahan may leave Stefanski’s staff to work with his son Brian’s staff in Tennessee when he reorganises it. On Wednesday, the younger Callahan received a formal job offer.
In Cleveland this season, Bill Callahan was instrumental after the team lost both of its starting tackles to injuries.
Joel Bitonio, a left guard, stated, “Coach Callahan has been instrumental for us.” He has aided in many of us on the line’s development. We are appreciative of that. Among the hardest workers is him. As far as the schemes and protections go, I know he works hard with us and plays a significant role in the run game.
However, you might have to answer that call if your son calls. That is truly unique material. In any case, we accept it and hope he will still be around to support us the following year.
Tommy Rees, a former Notre Dame quarterback and offensive coordinator for Alabama, is joining the Browns. He will coach the tight ends in addition to perhaps taking on additional responsibilities.
For the coordinator position, Stefanski has already conducted interviews with Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson, former Buffalo coordinator Ken Dorsey, and offensive line coach Andy Dickerson of Seattle. Johnson is a contender for a number of positions across the league.
