Browns Honing In On Alabama Assistant For Vacant Tight Ends Coach Role

One week removed from moving on from a handful of offensive coaches, the Browns looking to the college ranks to fill their vacant tight ends coach position with a college coach

The Browns are right in the thick of the NFL's hiring cycle, looking to fill three offensive coaching roles.

Cleveland parted ways with running backs coach Stump Mitchell, tight ends coach T.C. McCartney and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt last week. One week later, they're honing in on filling at least one of those positions by turning to the college ranks.

Multiple reports indicate the Browns are honing in on hiring former Alabama offensive coordinator Tommy Rees to become the team's next tight ends coach. Rees spent this past season alongside Nick Saban at Alabama, leading the offense. Upon Saban retiring and the subsequent hiring of former Washington head coach Kalen Deboer to take over the Crimson Tide program, Rees was not retained.

Prior to his year at Alabama, Rees spent six years at his Alma Mater, Notre Dame, under Brian Kelly and current head coach Marcus Freman. When he first arrived back in South Bend he started out as a quarterback coach but worked his way up to offensive coordinator, holding that role from 2020-2022.

This will mark Rees' second stint in the NFL as a coach, having served as an offensive assistant with the Chargers in 2016 – one year prior to his return to Notre Dame. He'll come to Cleveland to take over a tight end room headlined by first time Pro Bowler David Njoku, who put up career numbers in 2023. Njoku led the team in receptions and touchdowns with 81 and six respectively. His 882 receiving yards were second only to star wideout Amari Cooper. 

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Rees was essentially a four year starter at quarterback for the fighting Irish from 2010-2013. He finished his college career with 7,351 yards, 61 touchdowns and 37 interceptions. The 31-year-old spent one year in the NFL as an undrafted free agent with Washington, but never played a game.