When McDaniels made his abrupt return to the Patriots, Frank Reich kept Ventrone on as his special teams coordinator. Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich, right, and special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone walk off the field after a 41-15 win over the Buffalo Bills in an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Nov. McDaniels had worked with Ventrone with the New England Patriots, with whom the latter got his coaching start in 2015 as assistant special teams coordinator. Ventrone was originally hired in Indianapolis by Josh McDaniels when he briefly took the Colts' head-coaching job. Punter Matt Haack, who was in his first year with the Colts, averaged a career-best 44.8 yards on 70 punts.Ĭolts' opponents averaged just 23 yards on kickoff returns last season and 7.4 yards on punt returns. Meanwhile, former Browns kicker Chase McLaughlin finished 30 of 36 on field goals - 7 of 9 on kicks outdoors - while making all 21 point-after kicks. It averaged 8.5 yards on punt returns, with Nyheim Hines averaging 10.1 yards before being dealt to the Buffalo Bills and Keke Coutee averaging 8.9 yards. Indianapolis averaged a league-best 27.8 yards on kickoff returns last season, aided by Dallas Flowers (31.1) and Isaiah Rodgers (25.1). The success of Indianapolis Colts return man Dallas Flowers is one of the reasons why the Browns coveted Bubba Ventrone as their new special teams coordinator.
They were 10th in his first season in 2018, then ranked fourth in 2020 and second in 2021. That was the third consecutive year and fourth time in five seasons the Colts were a top-10 special-teams unit under Ventrone. The Browns were 18th in the rankings, including a league-worst 12.3 average yards allowed on punt returns. The Colts had the eighth-best special teams in the league last season according to Rick Gosselin, who's ranked the NFL special-teams units for 42 years. Jim Schwartz was hired in January to replace Woods, former Utah State defensive coordinator Ephraim Banda is coming on to coach the safeties and, per a report Thursday evening by MMQB's Albert Breer, Ben Bloom is moving from being the defensive run game coordinator to coaching defensive line. Ventrone's hiring means the Browns have filled three-and-a-half of those openings, leaving just the quarterback and cornerback positions open. Quarterbacks coach Drew Petzing left to be the Arizona Cardinals' offensive coordinator, while defensive line coach Chris Kiffin departed to coach the Houston Texans' linebackers and defensive backs coach Jeff Howard left to coach the Los Angeles Chargers' inside linebackers.
The Browns have replaced five coaches since the season ended, including two coordinators in defensive coordinator Joe Woods and Priefer. However, they ultimately granted him permission to speak to the organization for whom he spent half of his eight-year playing career. Steichen reportedly had an interest in retaining Ventrone, which is why there was some question initially whether or not the Colts would grant the Browns permission to speak with him. They also talked to New York Giants assistant special teams coach Anthony Blevins and New York Jets assistant special team coach Leon Washington. Ventrone was one of three individuals the Browns interviewed for the position. Priefer was originally hired by then-coach Freddie Kitchens in 2019, but was retained when Kevin Stefanski - with whom he had coached in Minnesota - was named head coach in 2020. The hire of Ventrone completes a whirlwind two-plus-day span that started with the Browns firing former special teams coordinator Mike Priefer on Tuesday, interviewing three candidates during the day Wednesday and word coming out late Wednesday of an expected hire. He was interviewed by the Colts last month for their vacant head-coaching job, a job that recently went to former Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen. The Golden Whistle Award is presented to FIH International Umpires who have completed their 100 th official Senior International Inter Nations Match.The 40-year-old Ventrone, who played safety for the Browns from 2009-12, had been the special teams coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts since 2018.
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