Kevin Stefanski Not Ready To Name A Primary Play-Caller For Browns

As the Browns unveiled new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey to the media for the first time head coach Kevin Stefanski addressed tried to respond to questions about who will call plays next season.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has a decision to make as new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey officially joins his staff.

For each of the first four years of his tenure in Cleveland, Stefanski himself has handled the offensive play-calling. Now, after the dismissal of former OC Alex Van Pelt and the addition of Dorsey, who holds that responsibility moving forward is up in the air.

Ahead of Dorsey's introductory press conference, Stefanski didn't do much to quell questions on the subject.

"Play-calling, which I know everyone wants to talk about, we'll get there," Stefanski asserted. "It's February 5. What I'm looking forward to the most is putting this offense back together with Ken, really leading the charge and that's why he's here. Really pleased to have him here."

Notable from Stefanski's response is the reference to Dorsey "leading the charge," on the duos upcoming work to put the offense "back together." That could be as simple as Dorsey bringing a fresh perspective to the table that Stefanski hopes to utilize and tap into. It also could suggest that the Browns are preparing to build an offense in the image of Dorsey and he's overseeing that process.  

Dorsey comes to Cleveland from Buffalo where he served as an offensive coordinator each of the last two seasons before being fired by Bills head coach Sean McDermott after Week 10 a few months ago. That two year-stint was Dorsey's first time serving as an offensive coordinator in the NFL, as he was promoted to the role following the departure of former OC Brian Daboll to become the Giants head coach. 

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Under Daboll, Dorsey served primarily as the quarterbacks coach but passing game coordinator added to his title in 2021. Dorsey's experience calling the plays in Buffalo was a bit of a roller coaster ride at times, leading to his firing mid-season. Dorsey suggested he is concerned with being the primary play-caller in Cleveland.  

"Play-calling to me, not as important as winning football games," Dorsey said. "To me it's more about what's the decision that we feel most comfortable about moving forward to help out ream win. I've been, in my career, more interested about what can I do to help this team win more so than anything else. And that's the only thing that matters to me. Whether Kevin's calling it, I'm calling it: the most important thing is us as a team." 

The Cleveland faithful will have to wait for an answer as to who play-calling will reside with next season. While Stefanski mulls that decision, Dorsey – an ex-Browns quarterback– believes he can impact on the offense regardless.

"I can [still] do my job as high as a level as humanly possible" he asserted. "I can get Deshaun [Watson] ready to play each and every week. I can get our room ready to play each and every week, because we've got a great room, and I'm sure we'll add to that. And I can help develop a game plan that's gonna help us be multiple, attack a defense in different ways, be aggressive, and be elite in what we do. That's the most important thing to me."