Tommy Rees is taking over a Browns offense that in 2024 finished last in the NFL in points scored, last in third-down efficiency, last in passing yards per play, 31st in yards per play, 30th in sacks per pass play and 30th in percentage of passes intercepted. Plus, Rees doesn’t know for sure who the quarterback will be in 2025. He knows it won’t be Deshaun Watson, Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson-Robinson or Bailey Zappe, but who will become the 41st quarterback since 1999 to start for the Browns will be determined in the months ahead. No wonder Kevin Stefanski dashed out of the media room quickly on Jan. 23 without taking questions after introducing Rees as the Browns’ new offensive coordinator. Rees coached the tight ends in 2024. “He’s ready for this,” Stefanski said. “We already had a bunch of meetings with Tommy, with the offensive coaches. It feels like Tommy’s got a really strong handle on this job and I’m excited for him.” New offensive coordinator Tommy Rees has the challenge of not knowing who the #Browns quarterback will be in 2025. He has an answer for that. pic.twitter.com/3DWs0tK513 — Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) January 23, 2025 Most of the questions asked of Rees focused on the Browns’ quarterback situation. They have the second pick in the draft April 24 and are expected to sign a veteran before that, when free agency begins March 12. Rees and Stefanski plus general manager Andrew Berry must know by now whom they are targeting, but no one is sharing the information. “I think you want to build an offense that has flexibility to be able to cater to any quarterback strengths, and that’s what we’re after here,” Rees said. “We have to be malleable in our ability to shape the offense, to really highlight the strengths of that player. And I know we’re going to put a system together that’s able to do that.” Does that mean reverting to the play-action offense the Browns used in 2023 when they went through four quarterbacks with Alex Van Pelt as offensive coordinator, won 11 games and made the playoffs as a wild-card team? “I think there are core principles within that system that we want to major in and own,” Rees said. “But like anything, you’re going to adapt with the times and you’re going to evaluate what our team is really good at and make sure that we focus the offense around that.” The Titans have the first pick in the draft. They also need a quarterback. Cam Ward from Miami and Shedeur Sanders from Colorado are considered the top two quarterbacks in the draft. The Browns have been linked to 36-year-old Kirk Cousins because Stefanski coached him while both were with the Vikings in 2018 and 2019. The Falcons are expected to release Cousins before March 17 rather than pay him a $10  million roster bonus. “At the end of the day, the quarterback’s job is to solve problems,” Rees said. “You’re going to be tasked 60, 70, 80 times a game to make a decision in a critical moment. And so I’ve always started with the ability to make quick decisions and make the right decisions. So if you said one thing over the other, I want a decision-maker at that position.” Rees was the offensive coordinator at Alabama in 2023. While there he worked with Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe. Milroe is expected to be drafted late in the first round or early in the second round. The Browns have the first pick in the second round — pick 33 overall. “I have a lot of respect for Jalen, but I’m really not going to expand much on anybody in the draft right now,” Rees said. Stefanski announced he will resume play calling. He called plays from 2020-23 plus the first seven games of 2024. Stefanski turned the duty over to Ken Dorsey for the final 10 games. Dorsey, the offensive coordinator for only 2024, was fired one day after the Browns finished 3-14. Rees said he is fine with Stefanski calling plays. “When you’re able to put together a plan for your players to have success, and then you’re able to see that success transpire on the field, that’s about as rewarding of a feeling you can have in sport,” Rees said. “And so much of that is the hours that you lead up to the game, the time you spend in the office. “You sacrifice a lot in these jobs. Probably my favorite part of the job is being able to sit in there and schematically find ways to attack a team, and then to be able to have that come to life on game day really brings a lot of hard work to life.” Rees played quarterback from 2010-13 at Notre Dame. He played in 45 games with 30 starts. He threw 61 touchdown passes and 37 interceptions in his career with the Irish.