Browns name Tommy Rees as offensive coordinator (1.15.24)

For Immediate Release

Jan. 15, 2025

Browns name Tommy Rees as offensive coordinator

BEREA, Ohio – The Browns have named Tommy Rees as offensive coordinator.

Rees joined the Browns coaching staff in 2024 to serve as tight ends coach/pass game specialist, previously, he spent seven seasons as an offensive coordinator in the college ranks at Alabama and Notre Dame.

“Tommy has an incredible football mind,” said head coach Kevin Stefanski. “He is extremely bright and has been around the game his entire life. Before joining our staff, he established himself as one of the top assistant coaches in college football. Last season, he transitioned into our tight end room and with our pass game, and he didn’t miss a beat. Due to injuries, there was a lot of uncertainty at tight end, but Tommy did a phenomenal job with that group and always had his players ready for gameday, despite, in some cases, only being with the team for a short period of time. Innovation is such a critical element to the offensive game-planning process and Tommy brings that. Our intent is to build a sound and explosive offense that will put points on the board and I’m looking forward to working with Tommy to re-shape the Browns offense in 2025.”

In 2024, despite missing six games due to injury, TE David Njoku finished in the top 10 in receptions and receiving touchdowns among all NFL tight ends. Njoku led the Browns with five receiving touchdowns and finished second on the team with 64 receptions. TE Jordan Akins finished with a career-high 40 receptions, while adding two scores. Five tight ends spent time on the Browns’ active roster and combined for 111 receptions, 953 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024. In the pass game, WR Jerry Jeudy set a franchise record for receptions in a season and finished fifth in team history with 1,229 receiving yards en route to his first career Pro Bowl selection. QB Jameis Winston set the franchise single-game record with 497 passing yards on Dec. 2.

Prior to joining the Browns, Rees spent the 2023 season as Alabama’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, helping the Crimson Tide win the SEC Championship Game and advance to the College Football Playoffs. He spent six seasons as a coach at Notre Dame (2017-22), first coaching the quarterbacks and adding the role as offensive coordinator in 2020. In three years as Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator, the team averaged more than 30 points per game each year and advanced to the College Football Playoffs in 2020 after posting an undefeated regular season. He helped develop a number of future NFL draft picks at Notre Dame including TE Michael Mayer (second round pick in 2023), RB Kyren Williams (fifth round pick in 2022), T Liam Eichenberg (second round in 2021), TE Tommy Tremble (third round pick in 2021), T Robert Hainsey (third round pick in 2021), QB Ian Book (fourth round pick in 2021) and WR Ben Skowronek (seventh round pick in 2021). Under Rees’ guidance, Book finished his Notre Dame career as the winningest signal-caller in school history. He also finished second in career passing yards (8,948), completions (728), completion percentage (63.8) and passing touchdowns (72). Book posted a 30-5 record and guided the Irish to two CFP appearances (2018, 2020).

Rees spent the 2016 season as an offensive assistant for the San Diego Chargers as quarterback Philip Rivers threw for 4,386 yards and 33 touchdowns. Rees began coaching career as an offensive graduate assistant coach for Pat Fitzgerald at Northwestern in 2015. He was a four-year letterwinner at quarterback for Notre Dame (2010-13), finishing with a 23-8 (.733) record as the starting quarterback. He finished second in Notre Dame history in touchdowns passes (61) and third in passing yards (7,351) and later signed as an undrafted free agent with the Washington Commanders. His father, Bill, worked as the Browns director of player personnel from 2004-08.

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