Browns Hire Bubba Ventrone as Assistant HC and Special Teams Coordinator

The Cleveland Browns are hiring Bubba Ventrone as their new assistant head coach and Special Teams Coordinator.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero broke the news this morning:

The Browns fired former special teams coordinator Mike Priefer on Tuesday.

Priefer and Browns coach Kevin Stefanski had worked together with the Vikings before reuniting with the Browns following Stefanski’s hiring in January 2020. Cleveland’s special teams units were shaky during Priefer’s time with the Browns. A strong finish to the 2022 season wasn’t enough to save Priefer’s job in Cleveland.

Stefanski released a statement on the decision via the Browns Twitter page on Tuesday:

“I appreciate everything Prief has done for this team in his three seasons as my special teams coordinator, but I have decided to move in another direction in the best interest of our organization,” Stefanski’s statement said. “I know this city will forever be grateful for the job he did as acting head coach in our AFC Wildcard win and for all his contributions while leading the Browns special teams units for the last four seasons. We wish Prief the best with his next opportunity.”

It didn’t take long for Kevin Stefanski to find Priefer’s replacement. Less than 48 hours after Priefer was fired, Bubba Ventrone takes over the Cleveland special teams duties and the assistant head coach role.

Ventrone interviewed for the Colts’ head coaching position before Indianapolis ultimately landed on Shane Steichen for that position. Ventrone has spent the last five seasons coaching the Colts’ special teams units.

The Browns’ 2022 special teams units ranked 14th leaguewide by Football Outsiders special teams DVOA. They’d ranked 25th in 2021 and 27th in the 2020 playoff season.