The Browns have terminated Offensive Coordinator Alex Van Pelt and two offensive assistants from their coaching staff.
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has reportedly initiated significant alterations to his offensive coaching staff at the start of the 2024 offseason. Following the Browns’ recent playoff appearance, Stefanski has made the decision to terminate offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, running backs coach Stump Mitchell, and tight ends coach T.C. McCartney, as per a report by Josina Anderson.
Anderson additionally mentioned that “some of the players are unhappy with the developments.”
The dismissals, which occurred on Tuesday according to Anderson, are somewhat surprising given that the Browns achieved the distinction of being the first team since 2015 to win games with four different starting quarterbacks. Despite facing challenges such as the absence of Deshaun Watson, Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb, and losing their top three offensive tackles to season-ending injuries, the team concluded the season ranking 16th in the NFL in yards per game (335.9) and 10th in points per game (23.3).
Van Pelt, Mitchell, and McCartney had been part of Stefanski’s coaching staff since his arrival with the team in 2020.
McCartney played a pivotal role in guiding tight end David Njoku to a career-best season in the last campaign. Njoku secured second place on the Browns with 882 receiving yards and six touchdowns, achieving personal career highs. McCartney, who had previously served as an offensive assistant in 2020-21, was also part of the team in the same capacity in 2014.
Mitchell had served as the running backs coach since Stefanski assumed the role of head coach. Despite losing Chubb to a season-ending injury in Week 2, the Browns concluded the year ranked 12th in the league with 118.6 yards per game. This injury paved the way for Jerome Ford to step into the starting role, leading the Browns with 813 rushing yards. However, his 4.0 yards per carry placed him 29th in the league among rushers with at least 100 carries.
The Browns finished the regular season with four wins in their final four meaningful games behind the stellar play of then-38-year-old QB Joe Flacco, but their hot streak came to an abrupt end Saturday in the Wild Card Round with a 45-14 beatdown from the Texans.
Flacco threw back-to-back-pick sixes in the second half of the game, which essentially shut down any shot of the Browns climbing back from a 10-point deficit at halftime.
