NFL Rumors: Browns OC Van Pelt, More Offensive Coaches Fired; Some Players 'Upset'

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski reportedly relieved multiple offensive coaches of their duties this week, including offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt.

According to Josina Anderson of CBS Sports, Stefanski also moved on from running backs coach Stump Mitchell and tight ends coach T.C. McCartney, and the moves "upset" some of the players on the team.

Anderson noted that Stefanski informed the coaches of their fate Tuesday, telling them he wanted to "change course."

Van Pelt had been the Browns' OC since Stefanski was hired as head coach in 2020, and while they experienced some ups and downs, Van Pelt had a hand in the Browns enjoying more success than they had in decades.

With Stefanski and Van Pelt running the offense, the Browns went 11-5 and reached the playoffs in 2020, marking the franchise's first postseason appearance since 2002.

Cleveland missed the playoffs in each of the next two campaigns, but by virtue of an 11-6 record this season, the Browns experienced playoff football once again.

Given the sheer amount of injuries to key players they dealt with on the offensive side of the ball, the Browns far exceeded expectations by making it to the postseason.

Quarterback Deshaun Watson, running back Nick Chubb and offensive tackles Jedrick Wills Jr., Jack Conklin and Dawand Jones all ended up on season-ending injured reserve.

With Watson on the shelf, the Browns started five different quarterbacks, and they resurrected the career of veteran Joe Flacco, who went 4-1 as the team's starter during the regular season and threw for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

The running game largely struggled with Chubb missing all but two games, as Jerome Ford rushed for 813 yards and averaged 4.0 yards per carry, while veteran Kareem Hunt rushed for 411 yards and averaged a mere 3.0 yards per carry.

That likely cost Mitchell his job, although it should be noted that Chubb was a Pro Bowler in four straight seasons from 2019 through 2022 under Mitchell's guidance.

Perhaps the most head-scratching firing was McCartney, as tight end David Njoku blossomed this season under his watch.

Njoku set career highs with 81 receptions for 882 yards and six touchdowns, and he was named a Pro Bowler for the first time in his career.

The end of the Browns' season undoubtedly left a bad taste in the mouths of fans and those within the organization, as they were utterly dismantled in a 45-14 loss to the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card Round of the playoffs.

That game led to some sweeping changes, but given what Van Pelt, Mitchell and McCartney were able to get out of the offense this season under difficult circumstances, none of them should have much of an issue catching on elsewhere for 2024.