Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees is taking the next step in the organization’s head coaching search, as he is scheduled to interview for the job on Thursday, according to ESPN Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Rees, who has been a key part of Cleveland’s offensive staff, now has the opportunity to make his case for a promotion as the franchise evaluates internal and external candidates to lead the team. His familiarity with the roster and the Browns’ offensive approach could be viewed as an advantage as the front office weighs continuity against a fresh direction. Former head coach Kevin Stefanski was fired after the Browns 5-12 2025 campaign, which finished last in the AFC North.
Rees helped Cleveland win five games in 2025, and finish the season on a two-game win streak, while navigating the quarterback carousel of Joe Flacco, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. Flacco played just four games before signing with the Cincinnati Bengals after Joe Burrow's toe injury, and Gabriel became the first backup. He played in 10 games and completed 59.5 percent of his passes for 937 yards, threw seven touchdowns and two interceptions. Saunders played in a total of eight games, where he completed 56.6 percent of his passes for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and a team-high 10 interceptions.
The interview signals that Cleveland is casting a wide net in its search for a new head coach, with Rees emerging as a legitimate option in the early stages of the process. How he performs in the interview could determine whether the Browns keep leadership in-house or look elsewhere for their next head coach.
