The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Former Chiefs GM to take the helm
Brown is fired, replaced with ex-Chiefs GM Dorsey
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam began his workday Dec. 7 by firing Sashi Brown and ended it by hiring Brown’s replacement.
John Dorsey, with 26 years in football personnel on his resume, is the Browns’ new general manager. He most recently was general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs from 2013-16. Prior to that, he was the director of college scouting for the Packers from 2000-11 and the Packers’ director of football operations in 2012.
“Football is what I know; it’s what I love,” Dorsey said in a statement.” It’s what I’ve worked my whole career at and I thrive on every element that goes into building a winning football team.
“I’ve spent a majority of my football life with two franchises that also have storied history and I think I have a feel for the mentality of the fans in Cleveland and what it would mean to recreate the success this franchise once had.”
Dorsey is the most experienced person with a front-office background the Browns have had in their front office since returning to the NFL in 1999.
“We are thrilled to have John Dorsey lead our football operations,” Dee and Jimmy Haslam said in a statement. “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.”
Brown was fired 28 games into his role as executive vice president of football operations. The Browns are 1-27 under his leadership.
Going with a traditional “football guy” is a complete reversal of the plan Haslam envisioned when he hired Brown after firing Ray Farmer as general manager. Before firing Farmer (2015), Haslam fired Tom Heckert (2012) and the pair of Joe Banner as CEO and Mike Lombardi in 2013.
“We know we have a critical and very positive opportunity ahead of us to profoundly impact the foundation of this football team,” the statement from the Haslams said. “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.”
The timing of firing Brown and hiring Dorsey is important. Earlier in the week, the Giants fired head coach Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese. They are in the market for a new GM. Haslam beat Giants owner John Mara to the punch with what should be an attractive situation for Dorsey – two first-round draft picks (including likely the first pick overall), three secondround choices plus eight other picks in the 2018 draft along with nearly $60 million in salary cap room.
“I’ve quickly realized how passionate Jimmy and Dee are about bringing a winning team to the city and would have not taken the job if I didn’t think the right ownership was in place,” Dorsey said. “I’m eager to work with Hue, his staff, and our personnel department and help bring us the success these fans so deserve.”
In announcing he was firing Brown, Haslam also announced head coach Hue Jackson would return in 2018 for a third season. Earlier in the day, Jackson said he knows of Dorsey but he does not know him personally.
Dorsey ran the Packers scouting department when Green Bay drafted quarterback Aaron Rodgers in 2005.
Dorsey was selected by the Packers in the fourth round of the 1984 draft. He appeared in 76 career regular season games as a linebacker and on special teams. He was a special teams captain and set the Green Bay single-season club record with 35 special teams tackles in 1984.