Former Alabama OC Tommy Rees nearing agreement to join NFL staff, per reports
Tommy Rees is potentially going pro.
Following an almost clean slate of expected hires under new Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer, the former Tide offensive coordinator is reportedly continuing his career in the NFL.
According to multiple reports published Monday, Rees and the Cleveland Browns are nearing an agreement to appoint Rees as tight ends coach. Rees, 31, will join head coach Kevin Stefanski. The Athletic’s Zac Jackson was the first to report the sides were “working” toward a deal while noting Rees’ title isn’t yet finalized.
In his lone year running Nick Saban’s offense, following a long tenure at Notre Dame, Rees called plays for Alabama’s 56th-ranked unit. UA’s attack, which struggled to find a starting quarterback through the opening month of the season, produced 393.1 yards per game and scored 55 times. Quarterback Jalen Milroe developed into one of the Southeastern Conference’s better playmakers throughout the year while the Tide offense featured a balance of deep throws and solid rushing attack.
Rees was a semifinalist for the Broyles Award given to the best assistant coach in college football. He was nominated by Saban, who spoke glowingly about Rees ahead of the Iron Bowl:
“I think he’s done a great job of transforming our offense and players and how they’ve improved. I think that’s made a huge difference in the confidence of our team offensively, as well as our team in general. He’s done an outstanding job.”
Rees, who quarterbacked at Notre Dame from 2010-13 and spent a week on an NFL roster, has eight years of collegiate coaching experience. He arrived at Alabama known for utilizing his tight ends. Rees sporadically deployed Amari Niblack (20 catches for 327 yards and four touchdowns) and Maryland transfer CJ Dippre (11 catches for 187 yards).
The Browns were eliminated in the first round of the NFL playoffs. Stefanski is replacing three offensive coaches, including coordinator Alex Van Pelt, tight ends coach T.C. McCartney and running backs coach Stump Mitchell.
“You take these jobs, you take this opportunity, knowing the challenges that come with it,” Rees said on Dec. 28. “For me personally, you want that. You want to be at a place where the expectations are high. You want to be at a place where the demands are high. You want to be at a place where football is important and people care, and you understand what comes with that. For me, that was part of the allure of the job. Learning under Coach (Saban), growing under Coach, being challenged every day in how you think and how you develop and being prepared, like those are all positives.”
