The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Dorsey takes over as GM
Team ousts Brown, but Jackson stays despite 1-27 record.
CLEVELAND — John Dorsey turned the Kansas City Chiefs back into winners. His new project is more daunting.
The Cleveland Browns hired Dorsey on Thursday to be their new general manager and fix a team that has won just one game over the past two seasons and remains in a perpetual search for a franchise quarterback.
Owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam wasted no time in landing Dorsey, who was brought in hours after the team fired vice president of football operations Sashi Brown after less than two seasons. The owners chose to keep coach Hue Jackson despite a 1-27 record.
Brown was able to acquire future assets during his tenure, but he missed on quarterbacks in the draft.
“We are thrilled to have John Dorsey lead our football operations,” the Haslams said. “John has been immersed in the NFL for 26 years, won two Super Bowls, built sustainable winning football teams and is highly respected for his football acumen. We know we have a critical and very positive opportunity ahead of us to profoundly impact the foundation of this football team.
“Bringing in someone of John Dorsey’s caliber, his track record of success and his experience, significantly strengthens our opportunities to build a winning football team and that has been, and continues to be, what we want for our fans.”
Dorsey was fired by the Chiefs in June, ending a successful four-year run. But while he was Kansas City’s GM, the club flourished, going 43-21 and advancing to the postseason three times. After starting 1-5 in 2015, the Chiefs went 12-4 the following year and won the AFC West.
While with Kansas City in 2013, Dorsey traded for quarterback Alex Smith, who has developed into a Pro Bowler. He also selected All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce, cornerback Marcus Peters and wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
A former NFL linebacker, Dorsey is looking forward to the challenge.
“Football is what I know, it is what I love, it is what I have worked my whole career at and I thrive on every element that goes into building a winning football team,” said Dorsey, who worked in Green Bay’s front office before joining the Chiefs.
Jackson’s survival would indicate he won a power struggle over Brown, the team’s former legal counsel who had no previous experience running a team.
The football and personnel departments have clashed over decisions and the tensions — along with the record — gave Haslam the impetus to make more changes despite promising continuity when the season began.