Browns hire Todd Haley as offensive coordinator Updated Jan 23, 6:52 PM; Posted Jan 22 Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley stands withquarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) warms up before an NFL preseason football game against the Indianapolis Colts , Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Fred Vuich)(Fred Vuich) By Mary Kay Cabot, cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The man who helped Ben Roethlisberger dominate the Browns over the past six seasons will now try to turn the tables on the Steelers. Former Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley, who didn't have his contract renewed by the Steelers last week, has been hired by the Browns as the first offensive coordinator under Hue Jackson, a league source told cleveland.com. Haley, 50, is expected to call plays under Jackson because of his vast experience in that role. He'll also have an opportunity to coach a new rookie quarterback such as Sam Darnold or Josh Rosen, who are candidates for the Browns at No. 1 overall. Word out of Pittsburgh is that Haley clashed with Roethlisberger, but Big Ben didn't admit to that during a radio interview on Jan. 17. Instead, he described a positive interaction he had with Haley after the Steelers lost 45-42 to the Jaguars in the divisional playoffs. In that game, Roethlisberger threw for a franchise-playoff-record 469 yards and five touchdowns. "We talked and laughed about the season and how proud we were of how we improved as an offense," Roethlisberger said on 97.3 The Fan in Pittsburgh. "To be able to come out as the top three or five offense...just how proud we both were of everything that was accomplished with this offense." He noted that any disagreements with Haley over the years were no big deal. "You're always going to have rifts, if you will,'' he said. "That's players and coaches, it's not just Coach Haley and I. There's always issues in a competitive field like we have where everyone is trying to win and everybody is trying to be the best they can be." Jackson and his coaching staff are in Mobile, Ala., for the Senior Bowl, but Haley will not join them there. The new coordinator goes from a team that's had double-digit victories over the past four seasons and four straight playoff appearances to a club that went 0-16 in 2017 and 1-15 in 2016. He also switches from an offense that finished eighth in the NFL with 25.4 points per game to one that finished 32nd in the NFL with 14.6 points per game. Behind a struggling rookie quarterback in DeShone Kizer, the Browns finished near the bottom of the league in several key categories, including interceptions, third-down efficiency and yards per game. Conversely, Haley, the former head coach of the Chiefs, ran one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL over the past four years. During that span, Steelers were second in scoring only to the Patriots, and have been in the top 10 in the NFL in scoring in each of those four years, the club's longest such streak since the 1970s. In 2017, The Steelers finished in the top 10 in several key offensive categories, including total yards (3rd), yards per play (7th), net passing yards per game (third), third down efficiency (2nd), and points per game (8th). Roethlisberger, receiver Antonio Brown and running back Le'Veon Bell also consistently finished among the league leaders under Haley. In 2017, Roethlisberger finished 13th in the NFL with a 93.4 rating, and Bell finished third 1,291 yards. Brown was first in the NFL with 1,533 yards on 101 receptions, and caught 9 TD passes. The Steelers also sent six offensive players to the Pro Bowl in Brown, Roethlisberger, Bell, and offensive linemen Alejandro Villanueva, David DeCastro and Maurkice Pouncey. In 2016, the Steelers advanced to the AFC Championship Game and sent five offensive players to the Pro Bowl. Bell led the NFL in scrimmage yards per game (157.0). He also became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 3,000 rushing yards and 1,500 receiving yards in his career (38 games). Related: Adam Henry and Ken Zampese are added to the Browns offensive staff Haley coached of the Chiefs from 2008 through Week 14 of the 2011 season, posting a 19-26 mark. In 2010, he guided the team to the greatest turnaround in franchise history, from 4-12 to 10-6. They also made the playoffs for the first time since 2006. Haley served as the Cardinals' offensive coordinator in 2007-08, during which the team won the club's first division title since 1975 and advanced to the Super Bowl. Under Haley, the Cardinals were one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL, tying for third in the league with a franchise-record 427 points in 2008. The Cardinals also became the fifth team in NFL history with three receivers recording 1,000 yards in the same season. From 1999 to 2006, Haley served as receivers coach for the Cowboys, Bears and Jets, making the playoffs with each of those teams. Haley has received a ringing endorsement from Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, who tweeted last week "I know if I had anything left in this old body, I would sign up tomorrow to work and play for Todd again.'' Haley was Warner's offensive coordinator when they lost to the Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII in 2009. Haley inherits two new assistant coaches Jackson hired this offseason in receivers coach Adam Henry, formerly with the Giants; and quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese, former offensive coordinator of the Bengals. Jackson now has two former head coaches manning his offense and defense, including defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who coached the Bills.
When Haley coached the Chiefs his QB was Matt Cassel. He's also worked with Kurt Warner and Ben Roethlisberger. I can't see him passing on both QBs, and I wouldn't be surprised if Darnold is the pick. I'm not sure Haley would get along with Rosen.
This could be an incredibly good hire for Cleveland just because of the next few months. All of a sudden they have a well-established and successful person running the offense, wiping away the stench of incompetence attached to the team. Rather than agents whispering in Darnold and Rosen's ears about Cleveland being the place where careers go to die, you have the man behind the Triple Bs talking about how he can turn a talented rookie into a Hall of Famer. It could even allow them to attract other free agents on offense that they like. And imagine if Cleveland goes into Pittsburgh and beats the Steelers next year because of an offensive explosion? It could cause a riot.
Brook ...this is prob the smartest move the Browns made in decades imo...too bad for us that we sit in mediocrity Hmmm...there is about a snowballs chance in hell Browns don't go for one of the big 4 QBs...BUT Rosen opened his mouth and unloaded on them...so the GM MAY not take him.. Not sure about DArnold..but I read somewhere they LOVE Josh Allen..who can be gift wrapped to them for all I care Mac has to be aggressive and trade up for Rosen or Mayfield imo Todd Haley will want the the most talented out there..but who?..if he wants Rosen the GM may say otherwise
Why do I feel in a year or 2 fans of shitty teams will be saying at least we are not the Jets instead of at least we are not the Browns?
All three of those QB's hated Haley. Picking Rosen would be a recipe for disaster, but so was hiring Haley so who knows with Cleveland. Personally I'm hoping Cleveland drafts Darnold just to f up the Giants plans, and I'd love to see the fallout with Rosen playing second fiddle on the giants.
Scout for the Senior Bowl said today on Sirius NFL radio the Browns plus a few other teams absolutely love J Allen as the prototypical AFC North (Flacco Big Ben) type QB who can hurl the football at 67 mph and played in all types of weather out West Sure correlation between the Haley hire and now presumably the next Rothelsburger That opens the door for Baker or Rosen assuming NYG Take Darnold Mac has to be aggressive here and not sit at 6..beat Denver to the punch
That's a reality if we continue to draft defense and say this is not a QB driven league... After almost 50 years I am tired of waiting...so many other teams have smarter people running the team I am tempted to go all out as an Eagle fan..at least they have a viable product Woody and the Jets go f *ck themselves if we don't draft a FQB....you young guys can go carry the torch ..I'll be someplace else
Looking on the bright side we might not have to beat Denver to the punch. If we don't land Cousins, Denver probably will so they won't be looking for a QB.
Even brighter ..he and his Agent prob do not consider this jalopy as the premier landing site for him
