The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Cribbs back with Browns as intern
Josh Cribbs, a fan favorite during his eight years as a fearless, helmet-first return specialist, is back with the Browns as a special teams coaching intern.
Cribbs has been on the job since last month, but the Browns waited until March 8 to announce the hiring. He is one of the few true feel-good stories of the last 20 years.
Cribbs made the Browns roster in 2005 as an undrafted rookie from Kent State. His eight career kick returns for touchdowns is tied with Leon Washington (Jets, Seahawks, Patriots and Titans) for most in NFL history. He also returned three punts for touchdowns and holds 11 Browns records as a kick and punt returner.
“His reputation precedes itself,” Browns head coach Hue Jackson said in a statement. “He was one of the best return guys in pro football. Plus, he’s a Cleveland Brown. He’s one of our own.
“He told me over a phone call that he had a tremendous passion to get the organization back to winning and that means something to me. We’ve had several other (former players) reach out, but this ended up being the right fit at the right time for us.”
Cribbs applied for the job as assistant special teams coach under newly hired Amos Jones, but the job went to Sam Shade, who has 13 years of coaching experience in high school and college.
Cribbs, 34, is not discouraged by the “intern” tag. When he played he said he wanted to coach some day and now he has his foot in the door. He has been spending time breaking down film and is eager for OTAs in May when he can work with players on the field.
“It’s a lot of time involved, a lot of hours and not everyone is cut out for it,” Cribbs said in a statement. “Not that they can’t coach, but everybody is not cut out for the hours and the time it takes to put into coaching. That was one of the main important things in my discussion with Hue. He said, ‘Hey, look down in three months and if you figure it’s not for you, no hard feelings, we still love you. Coaching’s not for everybody.’
“That’s the process I’m in now. I know I want this. I’m proving myself again. This is something I want to do and will exceed, just like I did as a player. I’m going to use that same mentality as a coach.”
Cribbs has remained loyal to the Browns through all their woes. He and his family live in North Royalton.
“I have this burning desire to be around football, to get back in the game,” Cribbs said. “This is the closest way I can be around football, to still make an impact in the NFL. What better team for me to make an impact than the Cleveland Browns?”
“I’ve earned their respect already as a player. Now I get to earn their respect as a coach. I pour into them all the knowledge I have to make them successful and make them do the things I did.”
Cribbs was a fair receiver with 110 career catches for 1,175 yards and seven touchdowns. He was also one of the Browns’ surest tacklers on special teams. The threetime Pro Bowl player had 92 career tackles.