Zampese hired as QB coach; Tabor out

Special teams coach had lasted 7 seasons

Another Browns coaching shakeup has left only one person still standing with a major title from the start of 2016 — head coach Hue Jackson.

The Browns on Jan. 12 announced David Lee has been fired as quarterbacks coach. He is being replaced by Ken Zampese, who in 2016 and the first two weeks of 2017 was offensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals. Before that, Zampese was the Bengals’ quarterbacks coach for 13 seasons, but he might have to repair his reputation; Zampese was fired on Sept. 15, 2017, after the Bengals went the first two games without scoring a touchdown.

In other moves, Chris Tabor is out as special teams coordinator after seven seasons. Kirby Wilson was fired as running game coordinator after two seasons.

Al Saunders, the wide receivers coach in 2016 and 2017, has moved into the position of senior assistant/special projects in an advisory role.

Adam Henry, the receivers coach with the Giants the last two seasons, has been hired to replace Saunders as wide receivers coach. Henry has been coaching 21 years — 13 in college and eight

“At the end of each season, you have to evaluate everything. The coaching staff is obviously a big part of that process and it starts with me. The truth of the matter is we need to improve in every area.” — Browns coach Hue Jackson

in the NFL.

“At the end of each season, you have to evaluate everything,” Jackson said in a statement. “The coaching staff is obviously a big part of that process and it starts with me. The truth of the matter is we need to improve in every area. These are difficult decisions and for the coaches we’ve decided to part with, we thank them. They are good men, that have worked extremely hard and I appreciate their efforts.

“Adam Henry and Ken Zampese are two really

good coaches that I was fortunate to work with earlier in my career. They have successful track records, having coached and helped develop some really good football players. They will demand a lot of our players and challenge them to become their best.”

The Browns were 0-16 in 2017. They were 1-15 in 2016.

The defensive coaching staff, starting with defensive coordinator Ray Horton, was purged after the disastrous 2016 season. Gregg Williams replaced Horton. Williams and his staff of defensive assistants so far have dodged a makeover after 2017.

Pep Hamilton, who bore

the title of assistant head coach offense in 2016, left after one season to be the assistant head coach/passing game coordinator at Michigan.

Zampese helped develop quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Andy Dalton in Cincinnati. It is possible that offensive coordinator could eventually be added to his title with the Browns.

Tabor is a survivor. He was named Browns special teams coordinator in 2011 under Pat Shurmur. He was retained by Rob Chudzinski in 2013, Mike Pettine in 2014 and Jackson in 2016.

Special teams performed poorly for the Browns in 2017. The season began with the Steelers blocking a punt for a touchdown on the first series of the first game. The Steelers partially blocked a punt in the season finale. Also, JuJu Smith-Shuster returned a kick 96 yards for a touchdown after the Browns tied the game, 21-21.

Earlier in the season, Trevor Davis of the Packers returned a punt 65 yards to set up a Green Bay touchdown.

Tabor has already been hired by the Chicago Bears to be part of their coaching staff.

The shakeups in Berea mean the Browns are hunting for a special teams coach, running backs coach and possibly an offensive coordinator.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE Ken Zampese was the Bengals’ quarterback coach for 13 seasons.