Tag: Tommy rees

Browns TE coach was runner up in North Carolina head coach job

The University of North Carolina strongly considered Cleveland Browns’ tight end coach Tommy Rees to be their next head coach before deciding on Bill Belichick.

The University of North Carolina strongly considered Cleveland Browns’ tight end coach Tommy Rees to be their next head coach, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The Tarheels decided to hire Bill Belichick and make a major investment into their football program.

Belichick, the former head coach of the Browns, put together a massive manual to turn the University of North Carolina into a football powerhouse. Belichick is bringing over former Browns’ general manager Michael Lombardi as the University’s general manager. Lombardi has struggled in every personnel role he’s held for the past two decades. Hopefully, it goes well for the former Browns employees. 

Rees went through multiple rounds of interviews for the head coaching gig. Rees was previously the offensive coordinator at the University of Alabama and the University of Notre Dame. His former head coach Nick Saban put in a good word for Rees. 

Rees is a popular name in the coaching carousel. He’s been listed as one of the bright young minds in the sport. The 32-year-old coach could be considered for more Power Five head coaching jobs or an offensive coordinator in the NFL. The Browns will have a lot of competition to retain him. 

Former Alabama OC was favorite for North Carolina job if no Belichick hire, per report

A former Alabama offensive coordinator was reportedly a candidate for the North Carolina job.

If you’ve paid attention to the college football news over the last week, then you’ll likely know that the headline dominating the sport is not surrounding the College Football Playoff, but rather what it happening at North Carolina.

That is because the Tar Heels recently hired Bill Belichick as the program’s next head coach, bringing likely the greatest professional football coach of all-time to Chapel Hill in a move that sent shock waves across the sport.

However, just what would have happened if the Tar Heels wouldn’t have hired Belichick? Well, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, North Carolina could have looked to a former Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator to fill their head coaching vacancy, Tommy Rees.

Currently an assistant with the Cleveland Browns of the NFL, Rees was the former offensive coordinator at Alabama during the 2023 season under Nick Saban. That season, Rees led Alabama’s offense to an average of 34 PPG to rank No. 24 nationally, but did not remain in the role when Kalen DeBoer took over in Tuscaloosa in 2024.

While although not happening, it appears that Rees was nearly the latest in the Nick Saban coaching tree to land a P4 head coaching job.

Tommy Rees was almost named North Carolina’s head coach

Interesting

If you didn’t see on Tuesday, the North Carolina Tar Heels hired legendary NFL head coach Bill Belichick, but there was some Notre Dame connection with the transaction.

While the all-time leader in Super Bowl wins with six had retired in 2024, the lure of the game brought him back. If it didn’t, it looked like former Irish quarterback and offensive coordinator [autotag]Tommy Rees[/autotag] was going to take over the Tar Heel program.

According to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Rees was next on the list if Belichick declined the offer. Currently he’s with the Cleveland Browns, as its pass game specialist and tight ends coach following a stint as the offensive coordinator at Alabama.

It’s been quite the interesting ride for Rees as a coach, and if he was considered for this job, expect his name to be connected with others in the future.

Cleveland Browns pass game specialist and tight ends coach Tommy Rees addresses media June 13 during mandatory minicamp at team headquarters in Berea, Ohio.

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Browns growing a strong coaching tree under Kevin Stefanski

Three Browns coaches were named as future head coach candidates by Sports Illustrated.

Three Cleveland Browns coaches were named as future head coach candidates by Sports Illustrated. Sports Illustrated publishes an exhaustive list of head coaching candidates every year. The list highlights the best coordinators and position coaches in the NFL. 

Mike Vrabel was the first coach to see his name mentioned. The former head coach of the Titans will draw much interest across the NFL and college. The Ohio native is a popular name within the state as head coaches Kevin Stefanski, Zac Taylor and Ryan Day cycle through sitting on the hot seat. 

I would love to see him back in the scarlet and gray. Vrabel is an intelligent, tough, and honest coach. He can get a program back on track. Vrabel will have his pick of jobs come the winter.

Bubba Ventrone was the next Browns coach mentioned as a potential head coach. Sports Illustrated isolated special teams coordinators, who rarely get a chance to be a head coach, despite having more success than other coordinator roles. Ventrone has had a tough season in Cleveland – the special teams unit ranks near the bottom of the league.

Browns’ tight end coach, Tommy Rees, was the final coach listed. He was labeled as a newcomer to watch. Rees was the offensive coordinator for Notre Dame and Alabama before joining the Browns. It’ll be interesting to see if Rees rejoins the college ranks at the end of the season. 

The Browns aren’t likely to have a coaching search this season. However, a handful of former Browns coaches will be interviewing for head coach jobs this winter. Former Browns head coach, Bill Belichick, and quarterback coach, Drew Petzing are the two biggest names looking for a job. The NFL season is halfway over and organizations out of the playoff race must start building towards the 2026 season.

Watch Tyler Buchner as a High School Wide Receiver

Footage of Tyler Buchner as a wide receiver has been found!

Few, if any, have ever had the college athletic career arc of [autotag]Tyler Buchner[/autotag].

Buchner entered Notre Dame as a four-star quarterback in 2021 and was thought to be the next great Fighting Irish signal caller.

2022 saw him enter the year as the starter but an injury in the second game took away the rest of his regular season, but he was able to return for the Gator Bowl win over South Carolina where he walked away with game MVP honors.

Upon the arrival of [autotag]Sam Hartman[/autotag] from the transfer portal, Buchner transferred to Alabama to reunite with former Irish playcaller [autotag]Tommy Rees[/autotag].  The run did not go well for Buchner as he started one game and struggled mightily.

Buchner returned to Notre Dame this past winter where he joined the lacrosse team.  Now Buchner has announced that he’s returning to the Notre Dame football program but not as a quarterback, instead as a wide receiver.

How will that go?

Matt Freeman of Irish Sports Daily went and dug up old highlights of Buchner playing wide receiver his freshman year of high school.  They’re not against the greatest competition but are certainly worth taking a quick look at below.

All the best to Buchner as his career continues to be an incredibly impressive journey.

Tommy Rees emerges as candidate for UCLA HC job

One interesting name circulated on Saturday for the UCLA HC job: Tommy Rees.

Out of nowhere, one name popped up on Saturday: Tommy Rees. With a lot of experienced and veteran coaches among the rumored candidates for the UCLA Bruins head coach job, Rees caught some attention on Saturday.

Rees spent time as the OC at both Notre Dame and Alabama, so he has worked for some of the best programs in college football. He is a young, up-and-coming coach who could breathe excitement into the UCLA team and fanbase.

On the other hand, it would be a massive risk for Martin Jarmond to make, although it can’t be much worse than the last few years of the Chip Kelly tenure.

The Rees-UCLA buzz surely kicked into high gear on Saturday. And, there are plenty of mixed reactions about the possibility.

Report: Browns expected to hire Alabama OC Tommy Rees as TE coach

The re-shaping of the Browns offensive staff has begun

The Cleveland Browns and head coach Kevin Stefanski are looking for their offensive scheme to evolve in 2024. And it appears that is starting with the poaching of Tommy Rees from the Alabama Crimson Tide

To do that the team let go of offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, running backs coach Stump Mitchell, and tight ends coach T.C. McCartney.

They are looking for fresh ideas and perspectives on how to maximize the talent of quarterback Deshaun Watson and the rest of the offensive roster. The first addition on the staff seems to be close as reports say the Browns will hire former Alabama offensive coordinator Tommy Rees as the new tight ends coach.

Reports also say that Rees’ role with the team may be more than just the tight ends coach as he will help with the passing offense. The most intriguing aspect of this hire is the work he did with a mobile quarterback Jalen Milroe with Alabama this year.

Stefanski has shown the willingness to grow and make changes to his coaching staff even when that’s admitting he got it wrong the first time. He is looking for coaches who can help him make over his offense to fully capitalize on the mobility of Watson and this is a good start.

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Cleveland Browns expected to hire former Alabama OC Tommy Rees

With major coaching changes, Tommy Rees will no longer be the Alabama OC. Now, he’s working toward a deal with the Cleveland Browns.

When Nick Saban retired, it set off a chain of events that resulted in significant roster changes and moves within the coaching staff. A significant difference is in the offensive coordinator position. Tommy Rees is out of Tuscaloosa and is now expected to be hired by the Cleveland Browns.

The news, being first reported by The Athletic’s Zac Jackson, is that Rees is expected to be hired as Cleveland’s new tight ends coach and play a role in the offense’s passing game. A contract and title, however, have not yet been made official as they are reportedly still working toward a deal.

Rees only spent one season with the Crimson Tide, having been hired off of Notre Dame‘s coaching staff, where he also served as the Fighting Irish’s offensive play-caller. It was an interesting move, as Rees is only 31 years old and had played quarterback at Notre Dame.

New Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer chose to bring with him Ryan Grubb, who was Washington’s offensive coordinator under DeBoer.

Just recently, Rees had reportedly interviewed for the Crimson Tide head coaching job and was considered to be a “wild card candidate” for the position.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to cover Alabama football as the 2024 offseason progresses.

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Former Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees has found a job in the NFL

Rees lands on his feet in the NFL

For many of us, it was a huge shock when Notre Dame alumnus [autotag]Tommy Rees[/autotag] left the program to take the offensive coordinator job at Alabama.

When Nick Saban retired and the Crimson Tide hired Kalen DeBoer, Rees was out of a job. It didn’t take him long to get back on his feet. It was reported on Monday that the former collegiate play-caller is expected to take a job with the Cleveland Browns.

Rees will not be calling plays for the Browns. Instead he will be coaching their tight ends, which has one of the best at the position: David Njoku.

It’s an interesting move for Rees, who has long been a college coach and has no NFL experience. We will be watching to see how this move pans out for the former Irish OC.

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Notre Dame Athletics the Last Time the Detroit Lions Won A Playoff Game

Where were you in January of 1992?

One of the longest streaks in professional sports ended Sunday night as the Detroit Lions beat the Los Angeles Rams in what was their first playoff win since January 5, 1992.

The Lions now head to the divisional round where they’ll take on either the Philadelphia Eagles or Tampa Bay Buccaneers next weekend.

But just how long is 32 years in terms of sports?

Let’s take a look at a few of the things that were going on at Notre Dame at that time and where some key figures in the Fighting Irish athletic program were back then.

Buckle up and get in your time machine because here we go…