Browns QB coach Drew Petzing reportedly a top Arizona Cardinals target

On Feb 13, 2023

Cleveland Browns quarterbacks coach Drew Petzing watches practice during the NFL football team's football training camp, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022, in Berea, Ohio.

Most of the expected changes on the Browns’ coaching staff have centered around the defensive side of the ball. However, there’s a potential change on the offensive side looming.

Multiple reports indicated that quarterbacks coach Drew Petzing is a likely target to be the offensive coordinator with the Arizona Cardinals should Jonathan Gannon the Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator, end up as the head coach. Reports late last week indicated Gannon, a Cleveland native and St. Ignatius High School graduate, was expected to receive an interview for the Cardinals’ head coaching job after Sunday’s Super Bowl.

Petzing was in his first season as the Browns’ quarterbacks coach last season. Prior to that, he spent two seasons as the tight ends coach under head coach Kevin Stefanski, with whom he had coached with in Minnesota from 2014-19.

Petzing and Gannon’s connection was with the Vikings. The two were together in Minnesota from 2014-17.

Per Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, Petzing is also a potential offensive coordinator candidate should Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen get the Indianapolis Colts head coaching job. Steichen is believed to be one of the front-runners for that position.

Chris Kiffin reportedly heading to the Houston Texans

The Browns second defensive assistant expected to depart is defensive line coach Chris Kiffin. KPRC television in Houston’s Aaron Wilson reported Kiffin is likely to join DeMeco Ryans’ staff with the Houston Texans.

Kiffin and Ryans coached together with the San Francisco 49ers from 2018-19. Kiffin then departed the Bay Area to become Stefanski’s defensive line coach in Cleveland.

Kiffin would work under Ryans and new defensive coordinator Matt Burke, who is expected to come over from the Cardinals. The irony there is that the Browns tried to speak with Burke as a potential replacement for Kiffin, but the Cardinals blocked the lateral move.

Friday, Feb. 10

Jeff Howard reportedly heading to be Chargers inside linebackers coach

There’s been little movement with regards to the Browns coaching staff since the season ended. That is, except for the change in defensive coordinator.

That changed on Friday when reports emerged that the Browns’ defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator Jeff Howard is leaving Cleveland for the Los Angeles Chargers. ESPN’s Jake Trotter was the first to report the move.

Howard will coach the Chargers’ inside linebackers. He last coached linebackers as a defensive assistant with the Minnesota Vikings from 2015-18, part of a seven-year stint as a defensive assistant with the franchise from 2013-19.

The Browns’ pass defense ranked fifth each of the last two seasons, allowing 196.2 passing yards in 2022 after giving up 202.3 yards in 2021. In 2020, when the Browns went to the playoffs in head coach Kevin Stefanski’s first season, they were ranked 22nd in pass defense at 247.6 yards per game.

Howard’s departure is the only major move to occur on the Browns’ staff since defensive coordinator Joe Woods was fired hours after the season finale and Jim Schwartz was hired a week-and-a-half later.

Cardinals blocked Browns’ attempt to speak to DL coach Matt Burke

When Schwartz was hired, there were expectations of some staff changes on that side of the ball. One name which was tied to him, on Friday, reportedly will be hired instead as the Houston Texans’ defensive coordinator.

Former Arizona Cardinals defensive line coach Mike Burke, according to multiple reports, will be joining DeMeco Ryan’s staff in Houston. MMQB’s Albert Breer reported Friday the Cardinals had blocked the Browns’ request to interview Burke, ostensibly to be the defensive line coach in Cleveland.

Burke worked with Schwartz at stops with the Tennessee Titans, Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles during his career. He’s also worked for the Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins and New York Jets.