Ranking John Dorsey’s best moves in first year as Cleveland Browns GM

2-T. Promoting Gregg Williams, Freddie Kitchens

After firing Jackson and Haley, the Browns decided to name defensive coordinator Gregg Williams as the interim head coach and Freddie Kitchens as the offensive coordinator. With these two leading the Browns, the entire roster has looked much more confident and have played better overall.

Since being put into their new positions, the Browns have compiled a 4-2 record and were in playoff contention until the final two weeks of the season.

The Browns are now playing with a swagger that lets them play much looser. Entering games, the players seem confident that they are going to win and no longer look timid. If they make mistake, they are able to move on and not dwell on it, something that was common under Jackson.

The Browns are also not committing as many penalties with Williams as head coach. With Jackson as head coach, the Browns were committing penalties at a league-high rate, and it cost the team multiple chances at wins. Center J.C. Tretter said that Williams brings the discipline the team has needed all season.

And with Kitchens running the offense, the entire unit has been more efficient. Baker Mayfield has looked like a different quarterback under Kitchens, and he has said nothing but good things about the offensive coordinator.

If the Browns did not make the change from Jackson/Haley to Williams/Kitchens, it seems extremely unlikely that the organization would be in the same position that they are in today. Not only was firing Jackson and Haley the right decision, but having them replaced by Williams and Kitchens was the best move they could have made.