Browns to interview Texans QB coach Jerrod Johnson after talking to ex-Bills OC Ken Dorsey

BEREA — Add more names to the list of coaches the Browns have interviewed for the vacant offensive coordinator position.

Former Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey interviewed with the Browns for the position, a source confirmed to the Beacon Journal Sunday. CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones was the first to report.

Also on Sunday, Houston Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson emerged as another candidate who will be interviewing for the vacancy, a source confirmed to the Beacon Journal. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler was the first to report.

Johnson and Dorsey join Seattle Seahawks offensive line coach Andy Dickerson as the only known candidates to have interviewed or who will interview. Johnson is also expected to interview for the New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator position, according to multiple reports.

The Browns, who went 11-6 in the regular season last year but lost to the Houston Texans in the AFC wild card round, moved on from offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, running backs coach Stump Mitchell and tight ends coach T.C. McCartney last week. They’re known to have interviewed former Carolina Panthers assistant head coach/running backs coach Duce Staley for Mitchell’s position.

Jerrod Johnson worked closely to develop C.J. Stroud with Houston Texans

The Browns got a first-hand look at the work Johnson has done in his first year as the quarterbacks coach with the Texans. The 35-year-old worked with Houston rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, who is in line to be the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year after a sensational first season for the former Ohio State standout and No. 2 overall pick in last April’s draft.

Stroud completed 16 of 21 passes for 274 yards with three touchdowns and a 157.2 passer rating in the Texans’ 45-14 win over the Browns in the AFC wild card game. He was 19-of-33 passing for 175 yards and a 72.2 rating in Houston’s 34-10 divisional-round loss at the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.

Johnson was previously the assistant quarterbacks coach in 2022 for the Minnesota Vikings, where he worked closely with quarterback Kirk Cousins as well as head coach Kevin O’Connell, who also serves as the Vikings’ play-caller. He was also an offensive quality control coach for the Indianapolis Colts in 2020-21 under head coach Frank Reich.

Johnson’s NFL coaching career started in 2017 with a Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship with the San Francisco 49ers. He held the same fellowship in 2019 with the Colts.

The former Texas A&M University quarterback spent six years bouncing around various levels of pro football, including multiple NFL practice squad or training camp invites. Among the teams he was with include the Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys.

Ex-Browns QB, Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey second to interview

The 42-year-old Dorsey was fired during this season after the Bills suffered a loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 10. The Bills offense, at the time, was ranked seventh in the league in total yards, seventh in passing yards, eighth in points scored and 13th in rushing, but had struggled as part of a 2-4 stretch.

Dorsey was in his second season as the Bills offensive coordinator, having been promoted from quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator to the post when Brian Daboll was hired as the head coach of the New York Giants early in 2022. He had been the Buffalo quarterbacks coach since 2019.

Buffalo was a top-eight offense in multiple categories in Dorsey’s first season as offensive coordinator. The Bills were second in total yards, seventh in rushing yards, sixth in passing yards and fourth in scoring, while being the most efficient third-down offense in the league.

Prior to going to Buffalo, Dorsey’s NFL coaching resume included time as Panthers quarterbacks coach from 2013-17. He also served as a pro scout from 2011-12 with Carolina.

The former University of Miami (Fla.) quarterback played six seasons in the NFL. His first three years were with the San Francisco 49ers, and he then spent 2006-08 with the Browns.

Chris Easterling can be reached at [email protected]. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns to interview Texans QB coach Jerrod Johnson after talking to ex-Bills OC Ken Dorsey