Kitchens to continue calling Browns' offensive plays
Despite his promotion from interim offensive coordinator to head coach, Freddie Kitchens will remain the offensive play-caller for the Cleveland Browns, he revealed at his introductory press conference Monday.
The Browns hired former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Todd Monken to fill the same position. Though Monken co-authored the No. 1 passing offense and No. 3 overall offense in the league this season, Kitchens will remain the chief decision-maker on that side of the ball.
Kitchens took over the controls in Week 9 upon the firing of head coach Hue Jackson, and the Browns' offense took off from there.
The Browns will name Freddie Kitchens their new head coach.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 9, 2019
That could be good news for Baker Mayfield.
Mayfield posted better numbers across the board after Kitchens was promoted to offensive coordinator this past season. pic.twitter.com/5OdJw9gI62
Browns general manager John Dorsey said the final nine weeks of the season acted as a dress rehearsal for Kitchens.
Kitchens, 44, entered the year with experience as a position coach with tight ends, quarterbacks, and running backs. Dorsey said Kitchens earned the head job due to his ability to galvanize a young team and vision for the future.
"It drives me crazy that people were happy with 7-8-1. That's not acceptable. We understand that's an improvement, but it is unacceptable," Kitchens said. "We have only one goal and that's to raise the Lombardi Trophy."