Browns Rumors: Brian Johnson to Interview for OC Job After Being Fired by Eagles

The Cleveland Browns will interview former Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson as they look for a new voice to lead the offense, according to Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot.

The Eagles fired Johnson after one season in the role, with head coach Nick Sirianni telling reporters Wednesday they "got a little bit stale on offense by the end of the year."

Beyond the fact he only occupied the role for such a short time, Johnson's ouster was surprising because he was widely considered a young coach on the rise. The 36-year-old was Philly's quarterback coach in 2020 and 2021, a period that saw Jalen Hurts make significant improvements and become an MVP candidate.

The Associated Press' Tom Withers reported the Browns have also interviewed Ken Dorsey, who was fired by the Buffalo Bills midway through the season.

Cleveland is seeking a replacement for Alex Van Pelt.

General manager Andrew Berry declined to specify why the Browns have reshuffled their staff, with running backs coach Stump Mitchell and tight ends coach T.C. McCartney also let go.

The raw numbers weren't even that uncharitable to the Browns considering franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson was limited to six games. They were 16th in yards (335.9) and tied for 10th in scoring (23.3), though FTN Fantasy ranked them 28th in offensive DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average).

Coaxing a return to form out of Watson will be the top priority for whoever takes the job.

It's bad enough that the three-time Pro Bowler has logged just 12 appearances since signing his fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million extension. His performance when he has played is just as concerning.

Watson has thrown for 2,217 yards, 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions. His numbers are down basically across the board compared to his four-year run with the Houston Texans. Some are already wondering what an exit plan might look like for the Browns.

For any OC candidate, the Watson conundrum probably isn't enough to remove all interest in the job, but it presents a difficult challenge.