The Cleveland Browns’ offense has been bad. Historically bad. Third-worst in scoring. Dead last in explosive plays. Anemic in the red zone. Confused on third down. And after eight weeks of that mess, head coach Kevin Stefanski is handing over the keys — again. Receivers are tops in drops, the offensive line is near the worst in pass blocking, and Dillon QB play ranks almost dead last.
This Sunday against the New York Jets, Tommy Rees, the 33-year-old offensive coordinator, will call plays for the first time. Stefanski says it’s about trust. About timing. But if we’re being honest, it smells like desperation.
Still, there’s a reason to watch — and maybe even hope. Rees is a rising coach with a strong résumé, a deep knowledge of offensive structure, and a background in developing systems that balance power run games with vertical shots. It’s not an ideal scenario, but sometimes stars are born in chaos.
Browns Turn to Tommy Rees to Fix Broken Offense: Can Youth Spark a Revival?
Who Is Tommy Rees? And Can He Really Fix This?
Rees isn’t new to pressure. Before joining the Browns in 2024 as tight ends coach and passing game specialist, he served as offensive coordinator at Notre Dame and Alabama — blue-blood programs with high expectations. He helped install the Browns’ current offense this past offseason and brings a cerebral, disciplined approach to the game.
Despite being a former quarterback, Rees leans heavily on the run game. Across four years coordinating at the collegiate level, his offenses averaged 39.4 rushing attempts per game compared to 28.5 passes. His playbook is built on establishing the run, using pre-snap motion, 12 personnel, and physicality up front.
Browns guard Wyatt Teller even joked, “Hopefully we can bully Tommy into running the ball. I know Tommy well enough to know that his past has been run-heavy.”
That may be exactly what this team needs. The Browns have thrown too much in recent weeks, with a predictable, ineffective run game. Rees could bring fresh wrinkles — wildcat looks, tight end runs, end-arounds, and more physicality at wideout. If he does, it might just revitalize a stagnant offense.
At Alabama, Rees worked with dual-threat QBs who could run and stretch defenses. Neither Dillon Gabriel nor Shedeur Sanders fits that mold. But Rees knows how to adapt. This is his shot — and if he succeeds, it could be his moment.
Stefanski’s Second Surrender — A Hail Mary for His Job?
This isn’t Stefanski’s first time giving up play-calling. Last year, the Browns brought in Ken Dorsey to help fix Deshaun Watson. That failed. Now, at 2–6, Stefanski’s job hangs by a thread.
This move may not be strategic — it may be survival.
To add more instability, Paul DePodesta — the longtime analytics czar and architect of the “Moneyball” approach in Berea — left the team this week for the Colorado Rockies. One more high-profile voice is gone from the front office.
The Watson Bet and the Talent Drain
The Browns bet their future on Deshaun Watson — giving up three first-round picks and fully guaranteeing $230 million to a quarterback who hadn’t played in over a year and was surrounded by off-field legal chaos. That gamble not only wrecked the cap but broke the culture.
Since then, the offensive team has lost foundational leaders: Baker Mayfield, Jarvis Landry, Nick Chubb, JC Tretter, Kareem Hunt, and others. They were a group of whom brought in under John Dorsey, who left Cleveland with a roster ranked 11th in talent. Since then, Andrew Berry hasn’t matched that success in the draft, trades, or free agency.
And now? Joe Flacco — the castoff they traded away — just threw for 470 yards and ranks ninth in the NFL in yards per game. Baker Mayfield is 11th. Gabriel? 35th.
A Trail of Coordinators, Missed Fits, and Maybe a Spark
The Browns fired Alex Van Pelt, then Ken Dorsey, and now hand the offense to Rees — a coach who wasn’t part of the Watson decision and who might just do things his own way.
If Rees leans on the run and schemes creative ground-game solutions, Cleveland might find stability — or at least an identity.
A Glimmer of Hope: Shedeur Sanders
And then there’s Shedeur Sanders.
Drafted in the fifth round after Gabriel, many believe owner Jimmy Haslam pushed for the pick. Stefanski and Berry haven’t shown faith in him, but fans see hope. Sanders is poised, calm under pressure, and has flashed leadership even without taking the field.
If things spiral further, expect louder chants from the Dawg Pound: “Let Shedeur play.” Rees may hold that key. If he gives Sanders a chance and shows some success, both could rewrite their futures together.
Final Thought: A Long Shot, But a Shot
No one thinks this will be easy. But Rees is young, sharp, and unafraid. He has an opportunity that few get — and even fewer capitalize on.
Sometimes, change brings chaos. But sometimes, chaos makes way for something new.
Tommy Rees didn’t ask for this mess — but now it’s his offense. If he leans on what he knows, listens to his locker room, and lets this team do what it’s built to do — run the football — he just might surprise us.
Because in Cleveland, hope is never easy. But it’s always waiting.
Main Image: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
The post Browns Turn to Tommy Rees to Fix Broken Offense: Can Youth Spark a Revival? appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.