BEREA, Ohio – In a strategic shift for the team, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski will take back control of the play-calling responsibilities following a challenging 3-14 season against a backdrop of changes within the coaching staff.

During the announcement of Tommy Rees as the new offensive coordinator on Wednesday, Stefanski shared insights on his decision to revert to his previous strategy of calling plays himself. Previously, he had only done this during his initial four years in Cleveland before handing over the play-calling duties to Ken Dorsey midway through the last season.

“As you’d expect, I intend to call the plays this season, though I do reserve the option to switch things up if needed,” Stefanski stated while addressing reporters.

The conclusion of the last season resulted in a series of changes for the Browns, culminating in Stefanski’s decision to let Dorsey go. Rees, who was previously serving as the tight ends coach for the Browns, has now been encouraged to reshape the offensive strategy.

Stefanski had initially been reluctant to delegate play-calling to any other coach, only opting to do so after Cleveland faced significant adversity with the loss of quarterback Deshaun Watson due to a season-ending Achilles injury. This move led to a lackluster season for the offense, which recorded an NFL-low average of 15.2 points per game. With Watson’s ongoing difficulties and a recent second Achilles injury, the franchise is back on the lookout for a viable quarterback solution.

As the new season approaches, all eyes will be on how the combination of Stefanski’s expertise and Rees’s strategic insights will help revitalize the Browns’ offense and return them to competitive form.