Report: Andrew Berry, Wade Phillips will be joining the Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns have reportedly ended their search for a general manager and defensive coordinator, as Andrew Berry and Wade Phillips will be on staff.

The Cleveland Browns officially announced Kevin Stefanski as their new head coach on Monday, allowing the team to shift its focus to filling Stefanski’s staff and hiring a general manager. However, Cleveland appears to be already well on their way to completing those tasks.

According to Dustin Fox of 92.3 The Fan, Eagles Vice President of Football Operations Andrew Berry and former Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will be heading to Cleveland to join the organization.

Berry was considered the favorite to become Cleveland’s general manager as soon as John Dorsey parted ways with the organization. Despite leaving the Browns in 11 months ago, Browns ownership has held Berry in high regard.

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The Browns hired Berry in 2016 as the Vice President of Player Personnel. Berry started his executive career as a scout. He was in charge of running both the pro and college scouting for the Browns in his three seasons with the team.

A key for the Browns this offseason was having alignment within the organization, and most notably in the front office. Berry’s background as a scout and his use of analytics will make him a unifying force in the organization.

Phillips has long been considered one of the best defensive coordinators in all of football. The Rams finished the 2019 season with the 13th-ranked defense, allowing 339.6 yards per game. Phillips’ defense also had the 17th-ranked scoring defense, allowing 22.8 points per game.

During his three seasons in Los Angeles, Phillips’ defense finished in the middle of the pack in total defense and scoring defense. His contract expired following the 2019 season, and the Rams felt it was time to move in a different direction.

Phillips has been credited with helping Sean McVay develop as a head coach. Phillips’ 37 years of experience in the NFL as a head coach and defensive coordinator will help any young head coach grow as the head of the team. With the Browns hiring a young, first-time head coach in Stefanski, Phillips’ presence would be beneficial.

Cleveland needed to find people who will bring accountability to the organization and not create power struggles within the building. If Berry and Phillips do become members of the Cleveland Browns, the Browns will be bringing in two well-respected individuals.