Browns fire Freddie Kitchens after 1 season
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Freddie Kitchens will not get a second season in charge of the Cleveland Browns.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Sunday night the Browns have fired Kitchens following the season-ending 33-23 loss to the two-win Cincinnati Bengals cementing their 6-10 campaign, per the coach.
The Browns later confirmed the move.
Statement from Dee and Jimmy Haslam: pic.twitter.com/eJKFT2nCPo
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 30, 2019
Statement from GM John Dorsey: pic.twitter.com/uhNoMsJOb1
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 30, 2019
Kitchens’ star rose quickly after he took over as offensive coordinator in 2018. Mayfield showed great promise down the stretch and vouched for Kitchens to get the head gig last offseason.
Despite adding talents like Beckham and Kareem Hunt, the offense cratered in 2019, averaging 20.9 points per game, 340.9 yards per game, 36.2 percent on third downs and a 78.4 passer rating. The Browns didn’t rank in the top 20 in any key offensive category.
Kitchens seems like a good man and could be a good play-caller in the right circumstance, but his fast rise to head coach seemed to be too much for a Browns team that had high expectations but little experience in how to win in the NFL.
With Cleveland hitting the reset button yet again, they’ll likely look for a veteran coach that can manage the talent Dorsey has amassed.
NFL Betting
