The Cleveland Browns will be returning to action in Week 10 after enjoying their bye week in Week 9. When they take the field again, things will look a bit different on the offensive side of the ball, as offensive coordinator Tommy Rees will be the team’s offensive playcaller instead of head coach Kevin Stefanski, with the team hoping this will help rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel see more success under center.
Not much has gone right on offense for the Browns this season, so it’s worth seeing if Rees can help open things up for Gabriel and the rest of the unit moving forward. It’s worth wondering how Gabriel feels about this move, though, and he recently opened up on the surprising change ahead of the team’s upcoming game.
Dillon Gabriel Dishes on Browns’ Offensive Playcaller Change
Entering the 2025 campaign, it was clear that Cleveland was going to struggle on the offensive side of the ball. The team has a big question mark at the quarterback position, and that has yet to be solved. Joe Flacco opened the season as the team’s starter, but he was quickly replaced by Gabriel before getting traded to the Cincinnati Bengals.
In his first four starts, Gabriel has been OK at best. He’s thrown for 702 yards and five touchdowns, but the offense feels very limited with him at the helm. That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, as he’s a rookie playing in a weak offense, but his play has left something to be desired to this point.
For the second year in a row, Stefanski has made the decision to relinquish his offensive playcalling duties, with Rees getting an opportunity to take on this job moving forward. It’s another big change for the Browns on offense, and it’s one that Gabriel is embracing, as he recently opened up on Stefanski’s intriguing decision.
“I think it’ll be good, just because of who coach Tommy is,” Gabriel said on Thursday. “I’ve been a fan of him even in college … I think day-to-day, nothing has really changed, it’ll just be the flow on gameday. We look forward to it. We’re all coming together to create improvement, and that’s all we’re focused on.”
Is Tommy Rees the Answer to the Browns’ Offensive Struggles?
(Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)BEREA, OHIO – JUNE 10: Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees of the Cleveland Browns directs a drill during Cleveland Browns mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025 in Berea, Ohio.
This certainly isn’t the biggest change the Browns have made on offense this season, but it’s an indication that the team isn’t happy with what they have seen from this unit through eight games. Fans continue to clamor for fellow rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders to get a shot over Gabriel under center, but Stefanski wants to see whether or not Rees can improve the overall production from the offense by calling plays himself.
It’s an interesting switch, but it doesn’t change the fact that this offense is simply lacking talent. Rees is a smart, offensive-minded coach, but chances are he isn’t a miracle worker. The best shot the Browns have for drastically improving their offense involves throwing Sanders into the fray, but that doesn’t seem to be something Stefanski wants to do. So, for now, it will be up to Rees to help Gabriel take a step forward in Week 10 against the New York Jets.
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