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Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees is a candidate for the Michigan job.
Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees is drawing interest from Michigan to be their next head coach after firing Sherrone Moore.
Michigan’s interest in Rees was first reported by Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. Rees was reportedly in the mix for the Penn State job before the program named Matt Campbell as their new head coach.
Cabot believes that Rees will likely be open to the opportunity if Michigan comes knocking. However, Rees has said his focus remains on finishing out the season with the Browns.
“I’m really focused on trying to play good offensive football, get a young quarterback ready to play, support our players,” Rees said. “Look, some of those things are flattering and you listen as a competitor. But for me, my focus is really ‘how can we go score enough points to win a game? How can we put our young players, put our quarterback, put our offense in the right position to have success? How to lead our staff?’ That’s really where my focus is right now.”
Rees took over play-calling from head coach Kevin Stefanski after the Browns’ bye week in November. The offense has shown more life in recent weeks, particularly after Shedeur Sanders took over at quarterback. Still, the unit ranks near the bottom of the league in most major categories. The Browns are averaging 269.8 yards and 17.2 points per game this season. Cleveland has a 3-10 record.
Browns Coaches Praise Tommy Rees
Rees joined the Browns in 2024 as a pass game specialist and tight ends coach. He was promoted this offseason to offensive coordinator. He previously spent time in the college ranks as an offensive coordinator for Alabama and Notre Dame.
Inside the building in Berea, Rees has drawn a lot of praise for his work and leadership with the offense.
“Tommy has done just a great job of providing leadership to our offense when it always hasn’t been good,” Browns receivers coach Chad O’Shea said recently. “I think that the greatest trait of a leader is how you can lead when times are tough, and he’s just done an outstanding job being in front of the guys on a daily basis of providing leadership. And I know I’ve really enjoyed working with him, and he’s just done a really good job with our offense.”
Browns offensive line coach Mike Bloomgren echoed that sentiment.
“Tommy is — he’ll probably be (mad) I say this — but he’s a football savant,“ Bloomgren said. ”Like, I was in my third year coaching in the NFL when I was his age and he is such an old soul with so much football knowledge. The way that he processes information in this game, the way he thinks this game is so next level, you know? Like, I’m amazed by him daily. So, I’ve enjoyed my working relationship with him since February and I’ve learned a ton of football from Tommy.”
Browns Coach Kevin Stefanski on Hot Seat
The seat is growing warmer in Cleveland for Stefanski, who has won just six games over the last two seasons. Stefanski took accountability for a pair of failed two-point conversions last week that ultimately lost the Browns the game against the Tennessee Titans.
“I think in my position, everything you do that doesn’t work will be criticized,” Stefanski said of the criticism. “That’s the nature of this beast. I’ll constantly try to do what’s best for the football team.”
NFL insider Albert Breer of The MMQB suggested that Stefanski may want out after the season.
“If you’re Kevin, and you are making all of these decisions for football reasons, and you have made a lot of other decisions over the years for football reasons and they’re constantly second-guessed and everything turns into a circus, would you be sick of it?” Breer said. “Has this just become, ‘You know what, this hasn’t worked out for either one of us over the last couple of years, so maybe it’s just time.’”
For now, the Browns and their coaching staff will have their focus on the Chicago Bears for Sunday’s matchup at Soldier Field.
J.R. DeGroote JR DeGroote is a staff writer for Heavy.com, where he has covered the NFL, NBA, and trending sports stories since 2019. His work focuses on some of the most passionate fanbases in sports, including reporting on the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Lakers. More about J.R. DeGroote
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