Dawgs By Nature
The Cleveland Browns are ensuring that no one will accuse them of leaving no stone unturned in their quest to hire the seventh full-time head coach since 2012.
So far, on the offensive side of the ball, the Browns are planning to interview offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Defensively, the team will interview defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz (a 29-51 record in five seasons as the head coach of the Detroit Lions back in the day) and Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde.
Those are some predictable names, so on Wednesday morning, the team threw in a surprise one with the news that they have requested to interview Dan Pitcher, who just completed his second season as offensive coordinator with the Cincinnati Bengals, according to Dianna Russini at The Athletic.
Pitcher has spent the past 10 seasons with the Bengals, working his way up from offensive assistant to assistant quarterbacks coach, primary quarterbacks coach, and then offensive coordinator. He began his NFL career as a scout with the Indianapolis Colts, where he worked under Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry, who was pro scouting coordinator with the Colts at the time.
According to his bio on the Bengals’ website:
In 2024, Pitcher’s first season as offensive coordinator, he helped Cincinnati lead the NFL in passing yards per game (272.9) for the second time in team history (1975). The Bengals also ranked fifth leaguewide in red zone TD percentage (63.9), sixth in scoring (27.8 points per game), and ninth in total yards per contest (365.5).
Pitcher continued to work with fifth-year QB Joe Burrow, who both led the NFL and set Bengals single-season records in completions (460), passing yards (4918), and TD passes (43). He passed for at least 250 yards and three TDs in eight consecutive games from Weeks 9-17, the longest such streak in league history, and was named the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year for a second time (2021).
Pitcher also helped WR Ja’Marr Chase become the sixth player in the Super Bowl era to claim the “Triple Crown,” as Chase led the league in receptions (127; Bengals record), receiving yards (1708; Bengals record), and receiving TDs (17; tied Bengals record).
This past season was not as productive, despite having quarterback Joe Flacco in the building for most of the season, as Burrow missed nine games due to an injury. Consequently, the Bengals dropped to No. 12 in points and No. 28 in yards.
Not to discredit Pitcher’s work, but it is easy to have success on offense when working with Burrow, Chase, and Higgins, so the Browns need to be prepared to dig deep into his work because the Browns do not currently have anyone at those positions approaching the quality Pitcher worked with in Cincinnati.
Plus, what is the worst that could go wrong with hiring an offensive coordinator from the Bengals?
***What do you think about Dan Pitcher’s candidacy for the Browns head coaching...
