Those nine games last season were Rees’ first as an NFL play-caller. However, he’s no stranger to task. Rees called plays in the NCAA for five years and change prior to joining the Browns in 2024 as the tight ends coach and pass game specialist.
Rees made his play-calling debut in 2019 for the University of Notre Dame. He was the Fighting Irish’s quarterbacks coach but gained the responsibility after former offensive coordinator Chip Long parted ways with the program after the regular season. Rees called Notre Dame’s 33-9 win against Iowa State University in the Camping World Bowl.
After that, Rees became Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator and continued calling plays from 2020-22. He moved to the University of Alabama in 2023 and did the same.
Rees did well at both stops. Notre Dame averaged more than 30 points per game each year and made the 2020 College Football Playoffs. Alabama averaged 34 points per game and made the 2023 CFP.
That recent history was why Rees wasn’t nervous when Stefanski handed him the reigns last year, despite the task coming at a higher level.
“Look, you learn every time you call plays, right?” Rees said at the time. “I started calling plays the last game of the season in 2019. I had a handful of years there in a row calling them, called them in big games, called them in games people didn’t watch, everywhere in between. Worked for two head coaches that are pretty intense on game day, so obviously you learned how to block out some noise, some friendly fire there. But I think you get into a groove, you get into a comfort level. So much of it is about learning your own team.”