Bubba Ventrone hired as Browns special teams coordinator
The Browns announced the hiring of Bubba Ventrone as assistant head coach and special teams coordinator on Friday.
Ventrone’s hiring was known by Thursday morning, when a source confirmed to the Beacon Journal it was completed. However, it wasn’t official until Friday morning.
“We are thrilled to add Bubba to our coaching staff,” coach Kevin Stefanski said in a statement from the team. “He brings a proven track record as both a player and coach in this league. As a player, he built a reputation as a top special teamer during his 10-year career. He used that experience to make a successful transition to the sidelines, where his units have routinely performed at a high level. He has an infectious passion for the game and we are excited to have him leading our special teams unit.”
The 40-year-old Ventrone, who played safety for the Browns from 2009-12, had been the special teams coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts since 2018. He was interviewed by the Colts last month for their vacant head-coaching job, a job that recently went to former Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen.
The hire of Ventrone completes a whirlwind two-plus-day span that started with the Browns firing former special teams coordinator Mike Priefer on Tuesday, interviewing three candidates during the day Wednesday and word coming out late Wednesday of an expected hire. Priefer was originally hired by then-coach Freddie Kitchens in 2019, but was retained when Kevin Stefanski — with whom he had coached in Minnesota — was named head coach in 2020.
Ventrone was one of three individuals the Browns interviewed for the position. They also talked to New York Giants assistant special teams coach Anthony Blevins and New York Jets assistant special team coach Leon Washington.
Steichen reportedly had an interest in retaining Ventrone, which is why there was some question initially whether or not the Colts would grant the Browns permission to speak with him. However, they ultimately granted him permission to speak to the organization for whom he spent half of his eight-year playing career.
The Browns have replaced five coaches since the season ended, including two coordinators in defensive coordinator Joe Woods and Priefer. Quarterbacks coach Drew Petzing left to be the Arizona Cardinals’ offensive coordinator, while defensive line coach Chris Kiffin departed to coach the Houston Texans’ linebackers and defensive backs coach Jeff Howard left to coach the Los Angeles Chargers’ inside linebackers.
