List and background of every reported Cleveland Browns HC candidate

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CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 23: Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens looks on during the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Freddie Kitchens

The Cleveland Browns offense looked like an entirely different unit when Freddie Kitchens was promoted from running backs coach to interim offensive coordinator. Kitchens was inheriting an offense that could not protect the quarterback or have an efficient run game.

That all changed under Kitchens, who changed the offensive play-calling, which perfectly into the style that quarterback Baker Mayfield likes to play. Mayfield’s improvement under Kitchens is one of the biggest reasons why Kitchens is being considered a head coaching candidate.

With Kitchens leading the offense, Mayfield completed 68.4 percent of his passes for 2,254 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.

Since Kitchens took over as the offensive play-caller, the Browns averaged 285.9 passing yards per game and 109.3 rushing yards per game. The Browns scored an average of 23.6 points per game in that span. The Browns offensive line allowed only five sacks during Kitchens’ time as the offensive coordinator.

Kitchens’ creativity was what helped him succeed as the Browns offensive coordinator. He would use previous plays that succeeded and build off those plays to have more success in the following weeks.

Kitchens had never been a play-caller before the Browns promoted him to the position. The 44-year-old coach has been coaching in the NFL since 2006. He has been a tight ends coach, quarterbacks coach, and running backs coach.