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The first reported hire for Kevin Stefanski has been made. According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Cleveland Browns are hiring Chad O’Shea as their new wide receivers coach. He replaces Adam Henry, who departed to the Dallas Cowboys.
Rapoport also says that O’Shea will be given the title of “passing game coordinator,” however, Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer says that title is not official yet, and that titles will be determined as Stefanski continues to hire his staff. O’Shea and Stefanski have experience working together with the Minnesota Vikings, way back from 2006-2008.
#Browns are hiring former #Dolphins OC Chad O'Shea a WR coach and possibly passing game coordinator, as @RapSheet first reported. He was with Kevin Stefanski with #Vikings 2006-08
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) January 19, 2020
O’Shea’s most prominent role was when he was the New England Patriots’ receivers coach from 2009-2018. He left the Patriots in 2019 to become the Miami Dolphins’ offensive coordinator. Although O’Shea was fired by the Dolphins after just one year, that is a team that was gutted and overperformed offensively down the stretch.
What is funny is that O’Shea was previously linked to Josh McDaniels, yet he still ends up in Cleveland. As far as experience dealing with big-time personalities at the wide receiver position, O’Shea seems well experienced in that area. I also love the number of slot receivers he’s worked with.
Chad O'Shea worked with Randy Moss, Joey Galloway, Chad Johnson, Wes Welker, Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola and Brandin Cooks during his time in New England. Pretty sure he can handle OBJ and Jarvis Landry.
— Brent Sobleski (@brentsobleski) January 19, 2020
Rapoport also mentions that it is to be determined whether the Browns are considering Rich Scangarello for the role of offensive coordinator, or just quarterbacks coach. Rapoport also says that Cleveland would really like to get 49ers passing game coordinator Mike LaFleur or run game coordinator Mike McDaniel to be their offensive coordinator, but that the 49ers probably wouldn’t grant an interview request for their services and they are still under contract for another year.