Tag: Jeff Howard

What coaching staff positions are currently vacant in Cleveland?

The Browns have a handful of coaching vacancies, and that is a good thing.

The Cleveland Browns have had an underwhelming two seasons since making the playoffs in 2020. And the rubber has finally met the road with their coaching staff as they look to get back into postseason contention in 2023. They fired defensive coordinator Joe Woods right at the end of the season, replacing him with Jim Schwartz. They have since fired special teams coordinator Mike Priefer as well.

They have had a few more openings on their coaching staff come open as well this offseason, and we take a look here at exactly how many coaching slots they have left to fill as the NFL Scouting Combine and free agency approach.

Chargers hire Jeff Howard as linebackers coach

There will be a new voice in the defensive coaching room in 2023.

There will be a new voice in the defensive coaching room in 2023.

Jake Trotter of ESPN was first to report the news on Friday morning, followed a few hours later by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Previously the defensive pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Browns, Howard piloted Cleveland to two consecutive top 5 pass defense finishes before joining the Chargers. Before Cleveland, he spent seven seasons in Minnesota as a defensive assistant, working with the linebackers and defensive backs.

While in Minnesota, Howard crossed paths with Chargers special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken, who said when he was hired that Brandon Staley had “[done] his homework” on him. Ficken said Staley had reached out to a “couple guys in Cleveland” who were familiar with Ficken before deciding to hire him. While there is no concrete connection between Staley and Howard, it seems like the two had talked before.

Howard now takes over a linebacker room in flux. Drue Tranquill is a free agent coming off a career season. A decision has to be made about Kenneth Murray’s fifth-year option. Kyle Van Noy and Troy Reeder are free agents as well.

Howard reportedly also had an offer to join Frank Reich’s staff in Carolina, per Trotter.

ST coordinator Mike Priefer, DB coach Jeff Howard told their jobs are safe

There may not be as much turnover to the staff as believed.

The Cleveland Browns may have just hired their defensive coordinator in Jim Schwartz, but that may be one of the few moves as a couple of other staff members have been told their job is safe. According to Cleveland dot com’s Mary Kay Cabot, the Browns have informed special teams coordinator Mike Priefer and defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator Jeff Howard they are not getting fired. Cabot also added that “a number of the defensive guys will remain on the staff.”

During his introductory press conference, Schwartz stated that his staff was not his staff, but Stefanski’s staff to hire up. For now, it appears that the majority of the staff may be back outside of Joe Woods.

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Report: Chargers interviewing Browns assistant Jeff Howard for linebackers coach vacancy

The Chargers begin their search for their new linebackers coach.

The Chargers are interviewing Browns assistant coach Jeff Howard for their linebackers coach position, according to ESPN’s Jake Trotter.

This comes a day after Los Angeles fired Michael Wilhoite from that role. Wilhoite spent the past two seasons as the Chargers’ linebackers coach.

Howard spent seven seasons with the Vikings from 2013 to 2019, serving as an assistant to the head coach, a defensive assistant, and an assistant defensive backs coach in his final two seasons.

Howard worked with the likes of safeties Anthony Harris and Harrison Smith, and cornerback Xavier Rhodes and linebacker Anthony Barr during his time with Minnesota.

Howard followed Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski to Cleveland, where he’s been their passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach.

In his first season, he helped their defense rank among the league leaders in takeaways. In Year 2, the Browns finished the 2021 season fifth in the NFL in total defense. In his third season, Cleveland finished fifth in passing defense.

Passing game coordinator Jeff Howard interviewing with Chargers for LB coach

The Browns may not have to pay a buyout for Jeff Howard as he is interviewing with the Los Angeles Chargers

As the Cleveland Browns transition their defense over to new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, they may have one less buyout to pay as they likely clean house of the rest of the defensive staff. Already looking for another gig as his fate is evident, defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator Jeff Howard is interviewing for a job with the Los Angeles Chargers.

While it is not for a passing game coordinator gig, Howard is discussing the role of linebackers coach with Brandon Staley. This is just the first bit of news as there will be plenty more staffing changes to the defensive staff as the offseason continues.

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Kevin Stefanski returns to in-person coaching with the Browns

Stefanski is back but 3 assistants remain out with COVID-19

Kevin Stefanski is back at the helm of the Cleveland Browns. The head coach returned to team headquarters in Berea on Thursday after missing over a week after testing positive for COVID-19.

For Stefanski, getting back to his team couldn’t come soon enough. He had been sequestered in isolation in his basement after testing positive on January 5th.

“Those walls were closing in on me,” Stefanski said on his Zoom with reporters. “So I’m enjoying this big building.”

He was welcomed back by players and coaches. One player, backup QB Case Keenum, made sure the coach knew he was appreciated.

“Case Keenum told me he hid something in my office, and he asked if I smelled it yet,” Stefanski noted. “But I don’t because I lost my sense of smell.”

Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer filled in as acting head coach for Stefanski. He was glad to hand the duties back to the head coach.

“Anytime your leader comes back to the building and is going to lead us into battle this weekend, I think it’s a great thing for our football team,” Priefer said.

Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, who took over play-calling duties in the wild-card win over Pittsburgh, expressed a similar sentiment.

“It’s huge,” Van Pelt said. “He’s such a presence around the guys. He was greatly missed while he wasn’t here, so having him back is big for us.”

While Stefanski did return, three of his assistants remain away from the team as they deal with their own positive COVID-19 diagnoses. Pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach Jeff Howard, tight ends coach Drew Petzing, and assistant offensive line coach Scott Peters are all still out.

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Joel Bitonio and KhaDarel Hodge test positive for COVID-19, will miss wild-card game

Coaches Drew Petzing and Jeff Howard also tested positive

The bad news just keeps flowing for the Cleveland Browns. Per reports from NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero and quickly echoed by several others, Pro Bowl left guard Joel Bitonio and wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss Sunday’s wild-card game in Pittsburgh against the Steelers.

Because both players tested positive, they must remain away from the team for at least 10 days.

Bitonio is the longest-tenured Browns player and was due to make his postseason debut. He’s also an invaluable member of the top-rated offensive line.

Hodge primarily serves as the team’s No. 4 wideout but also plays a significant role on special teams.

In addition to the players, tight ends coach Drew Petzing and defensive backs coach Jeff Howard have also tested positive and will miss the game, along with head coach Kevin Stefanski.

Browns DB coach Jeff Howard is big on improving technique

“…working on their craft and working on the details of their positions, unique footwork and eye progressions.”

There was a common theme during Browns defensive backs coach Jeff Howard’s pre-practice press conference on Friday.

Improving technique.

While there was another prevalent theme — injuries — as well, when Howard wasn’t talking about the walking wounded he was harping on the technical prowess of his cornerbacks and safeties. He’s a stickler for proper technique and for improving footwork.

From veteran CB Terrance “Money” Mitchell to young safety Sheldrick Redwine to Pro Bowl CB Denzel Ward, focusing on teaching and improving technique came out in nearly every answer Howard provided on players. It was especially focused with Ward, the unit’s most talented player.

“I always want to try to add value to my players,” Howard said when asked about Ward. “We kind of just went back and looked. I watched all his targets from last year and really just tried to assess him, tell him where I was at and then come up with a plan of ways that we can feel like he can possibly improve on his game.”

Howard is in his first season with the Browns after coaching with Kevin Stefanski in Minnesota for several seasons. His philosophy is best summed up in a quote he offered on Ward and Greedy Williams,

“…working on their craft and working on the details of their positions, unique footwork and eye progressions.”

Jeff Howard hired as Browns DBs coach and passing game coordinator

Howard has worked with Kevin Stefanski and Joe Woods in Minnesota

The defensive coaching staff under Kevin Stefanski is officially starting to take shape. While there have been all sorts of reports on several different defensive assistant positions, the first coach to officially join the Browns behind defensive coordinator Joe Woods is Jeff Howard.

Howard will be the defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator for the Browns defense. He’s spent his entire NFL coaching career working with Stefanski in Minnesota in a variety of assistant positions.

His NFL coaching timeline, all with the Vikings:

2013 – assistant to the head coach

2014-2015 – defensive assistant

2016-2017 – defensive assistant/linebackers

2018-2019 – assistant DBs coach

Before joining the Vikings, he coached at Texas Tech as well as Odessa Perriman High School, made famous in Friday Night Lights. He played linebacker in college at Eastern New Mexico.