Following his 16-year tenure as an NFL player and coach, the Browns officially announced Ken Dorsey as their new offensive coordinator.
After playing for the Bills for the previous five seasons, Dorsey now plays for the Browns. In 2019 he was hired as the quarterbacks coach, and in 2021 he was promoted to quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator. In 2022, Dorsey advanced to the position of offensive coordinator, a position he held until 2023.
Josh Allen, the quarterback for the Bills in his rookie campaign, had the largest improvement in QB rating in the NFL in 2019. Dorsey worked with Allen. The Bills then finished second in the NFL in both points per game (28.4) and total offence (397.6 yards per game) during his first season as offensive coordinator.
“Ken will bring a fresh approach to our offence and has worked with and elevated some of the top quarterbacks in this league,” head coach Kevin Stefanski stated. “Having been one of the most successful college quarterbacks in history, he has a great understanding of what it takes to succeed in that role and has utilised that knowledge to become an excellent coach.” He is familiar with the Browns’ significance to this community and has a past with the team. Ken’s appointment as offensive coordinator excites us much.
In 2002, Dorsey concluded his college career at Miami (Fla.), where he broke multiple school records. As a starter, he had a 38-2 record and was a part of the Hurricanes’ 2001 national championship team.
In 2011, he joined the Panthers as a pro scout to start his professional career. After that, he joined their coaching staff and was appointed as their quarterbacks coach, a position he held from 2013 until 2017. For four of his first six seasons with the Panthers, Dorsey collaborated with quarterback Cam Newton, who passed for 17,154 yards and 118 touchdowns.
Dorsey and the Panthers made it to Super Bowl 50 in 2015, but the Broncos won in the end. After their Super Bowl run, Dorsey assisted Newton in winning the 2015 NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year awards.
After being hired to work as Florida International University’s assistant director of athletics in 2018 and Appalachian State’s offensive assistant for two months in 2019, Dorsey left the NFL for a year. Then, in 2019, he joined the Bills to work under head coach Sean McDermott as their quarterbacks coach, taking on a similar position.
Allen set single-season franchise records for passing touchdowns (37), completions (396), 300-yard games (8), passer rating (107.2), completion percentage (69.2), passing yards (4,544), and total touchdowns (46). In 2020, Dorsey assisted Allen in placing second in the MVP voting. In 2020, Allen made NFL history by becoming the first player to have at least 4,000 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns, and eight rushing touchdowns in a single season.
Since the beginning of his NFL quarterbacking career, Dorsey has had a connection to Cleveland. The 49ers selected him in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft, marking the start of his playing career. The 49ers were his home team from 2003 to 2005, when he was traded to the Browns in 2006. In 2006, he was the starting quarterback in reserve. He signed on to serve as a reserve in 2007. Dorsey spent the entire 2008 season as a member of the Browns
The Browns’ offensive line saw ups and downs during the 2023 campaign as a result of numerous injuries to important offensive players. Throughout the season, they started five different quarterbacks, lost three of their tackles, and haven’t had their star running back, Nick Chubb, since Week 2.
With 4,011 total passing yards and 24 passing touchdowns, they concluded the season ranked 19th and 18th in the league, respectively. At 56.9 percent, the Browns’ completion percentage was the lowest in the league. In addition, they ranked 14th with 15 rushing touchdowns and 12th in the league with 2,017 total rushing yards.
Dorsey’s background as an offensive coordinator and his close relationships with some of the league’s best quarterbacks can help the Browns as they prepare their offence for the 2024 campaign, as they shift their attention to that year.
