CLEVELAND — The Browns didn’t have to go far to find their new coach.
Freddie Kitchens was already in the building.
The 44-year-old Kitchens, who had a dazzling eight-week run as interim offensive coordinator, is finalizing a contract to become Cleveland’s ninth coach since the franchise’s 1999 rebirth, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team is not commenting on the imminent hire.
As of late Wednesday night, the Browns still had not officially announced Kitchens as their coach.
However, there are no obstacles blocking his hiring and he’s expected to be introduced at a press conference on Thursday.
The Browns selected Kitchens over six other candidates, including Gregg Williams, who went 5-3 as Cleveland’s interim coach but is not being retained. The first candidate to interview for the coaching vacancy, Williams, who served as the team’s defensive coordinator, issued a statement thanking Browns fans for their support.
“I want to personally reach out to all the Cleveland Browns fans and the people of Cleveland to say thank you for your support,” William said. “It has been an honor to coach this team and we loved living in this community with the finest, most passionate fans in the world. I am proud that we were able to help get the Browns back to the winning tradition the fans deserve.
“I am humbled to have worked for such a storied franchise and will always love the city of Cleveland, this city deserves a winner! Please continue to support this team and the incredible group of men. I wish you all the very best and always remember #Comegetsome!”
Kitchens has no previous head coaching experience, but his work with Cleveland’s offense — most notably quarterback Baker Mayfield — in the season’s second half vaulted him ahead of the other six candidates interviewed by the Browns, who were looking for the right coach to lead them following a stunning turnaround season.
Kitchens will get the chance.
Under his leadership, Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft, threw 19 of his NFL rookie record 27 touchdown passes while erasing any doubt that he could be the coveted franchise quarterback that has eluded the Browns for decades.
Kitchens and Mayfield formed a strong relationship during their time together, and Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam along with general manager John Dorsey are counting on the pair taking Cleveland to new heights.
It’s a spectacular rise for Kitchens, who began the season as the team’s running backs coach. He took over the Browns offense when coordinator Todd Haley was fired an hour after coach Hue Jackson’s dismissal on Oct. 29 and Kitchens quickly showed he had coaching chops.
He revamped the offensive scheme, using multiple formations and tweaking the game plan to include calls that he knew his players were comfortable running. Kitchens, who was a three-year starting quarterback at Alabama, wasn’t afraid to be creative as he used wide receiver Jarvis Landry on running plays and to throw passes, and he got major production from rookie running back Nick Chubb, left tackle Greg Robinson and receiver Breshad Perriman — three players under-utilized by Jackson and Haley.
Kitchens and Williams kept their players focused and motivated following the mid-season coaching change and the Browns went 7-8-1 following an 0-16 season in 2017 under Jackson.
As the team’s success grew, Kitchens never campaigned to be Cleveland’s coach but leading a team was always a goal.
“Definitely. No doubt,” he said. “I heard the other day somebody say something about I wasn’t ready to be a head coach. I mean, who the hell’s ready to be a head coach? You have a resume that you check off the list and everything?”
