16 hours Ago By Jeff Schudel
The Browns moved quickly to hire a new offensive line coach just three days after firing Andy Dickerson. Mike Bloomgren, 47, was hired on Jan. 8 to replace Dickerson, who held the job as Browns offensive line coach for only the 2024 season before being fired.
The Browns are still seeking an offensive coordinator to replace fired Ken Dorsey, who also was canned on Jan. 5 after one year on the job. The Browns were 4-13 in 2024.
Bloomgren was the head coach at Rice University from 2018-24. He has coached in various capacities for 26 years. “Mike has a wealth of knowledge and is extremely bright,” Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said in a statement.
“In addition to his NFL experience, he has worked in a number of pro-style offenses on the college level. He has proven to be successful as a teacher and motivator, which will be vital for our offensive line room. We are excited to add Mike to our coaching staff.
” Bloomgren spent four seasons with the New York Jets as offensive quality control coach (2007-08), offensive assistant (2009) and assistant offensive coordinator (2010). The Jets reached the AFC Championship game in 2009 and 2010. After playing college football as a tight end at Culver-Stockton College, Bloomgren began his coaching career as an undergraduate assistant at Florida State (1997-98) and a graduate assistant at Alabama (1999-01).
He served as co-offensive coordinator at Catawba College from 2002-04 and offensive coordinator at Delta State from 2005-06. “I am excited about joining this organization,” Bloomgren said in a statement. “From the Haslams (team owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam) to the alignment with Andrew (general manager Andrew Berry) and Kevin, I think it’s an exciting time to be here.
The commitment that they all have to making this place great, and making another playoff run, is everything I want to be a part of.” Bloomgren led Rice to consecutive bowl games in 2022 and 2023 for the fourth time in program history. The Owls were 24-52 overall in his tenure.
Prior to Rice, he spent seven years at Stanford University, where he initially coached the offensive line for two seasons, before serving as offensive coordinator from 2013-17. He helped Stanford to one of its most successful stretches in program history. Stanford won eight or more games in each of his seasons and reached the Pac-12 championship games four times, winning three titles.
“I think as a coach, we exist for the players and that’s always going to be the case,” Bloomgren said. “I also think it’s our job to give them clear direction of how to do things. I know there’s a Hall of Fame player here in Joel Bitonio.
I think there are some really good pieces, and we have to see exactly how they can fit and see exactly how this offense gets formed, but I am excited about the potential with that group.” Bloomgren is inheriting a veteran Browns offensive line with Jack Conklin at right tackle, Wyatt Teller at right guard, Ethan Pocic at center and Bitonio at left guard, although Bitonio is uncertain whether he will return for a 12th season. Left tackle is unsettled, but for now the position belongs to Dawand Jones, who will be in his third season in 2025.
Jones is recovering from a knee injury that limited him to 10 games in 2024..
