Super Bowl experience drives Browns’ Kitchens
Freddie Kitchens isn’t tempering expectations from his new office in Berea. The new coach of the Cleveland Browns is haunted by a Super Bowl loss and wants to atone for it. And the Browns hope to benefit from his mission.
The sides finished a contract Saturday, prompting the team to formally name Kitchens the 17th coach in franchise history. An agreement had been reached Wednesday, but the Browns refrained from announcing the hire until the deal had been signed. An introductory news conference is scheduled for Monday.
“I think Cleveland and I get along pretty well. My family and I have really enjoyed our time with this organization and in this community over the last year,” Kitchens, who has had a remarkable rise since becoming offensive coordinator midway through his first season in Cleveland, said in a news release.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity and responsibility (owners) Dee and Jimmy Haslam have granted me. (General Manager) John Dorsey led a thorough search process, and I was excited about having the opportunity to come in and talk about my vision for the future of this football team. There are a lot of great people in this front office that I’m excited to continue to work alongside with a singular focus on winning.
“I’ve been to one Super Bowl that didn’t end the way I wanted it to and that disappointing memory is what really drives me. Our goal is to work extremely hard to earn the right to raise that Lombardi Trophy for our fans and this city.”
Kitchens was the tight ends coach of the Arizona Cardinals during the 2008 season when they fell 27-23 to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl.
Kitchens, 44, prevailed over six other candidates, including fellow finalist Kevin Stefanski, the offensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings, and interim coach Gregg Williams, who went 5-3 after the team fired coach Hue Jackson and previous offensive coordinator Todd Haley on Oct. 29 following a 2-5-1 start.
“We had a deliberate and thorough process and one thing became evident — that Freddie is the best person to lead the Cleveland Browns,” Dorsey said in a news release. “We saw firsthand what Freddie is able to do. He showed that he is consistent on a day in and day out basis and that he is a true leader. He helped unify our players in a tough time. He raised the bar for our offense last year, and I have no doubt he is going to raise the bar for our entire team.”
Rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield and the rest of the offense excelled under the guidance of Kitchens.
In the first half of the season, under Jackson, the Browns averaged 21.1 points and 342.4 yards. In the second half, they averaged 23.8 points and 395.1 yards after Kitchens had been promoted from running backs coach to a firsttime play caller.
Williams won’t return despite playing a significant role in the Browns rebounding from the 0-16 disaster of 2017. The Browns concluded Kitchens deserves at least as much credit as Williams for their seven-win improvement.
“(Kitchens) did an outstanding job in his role as coordinator, and we know that will continue as he steps into the role of head coach,” the Haslams said the release. “Freddie demonstrated all of the qualities that you want in someone who is leading your organization. He has unquestioned leadership. He is a man of integrity. He fosters a collaborative environment. He gets the most out of his players and our players loved playing for him. We are happy to have him leading the Cleveland Browns going forward.”