Browns Hire Former Broncos QB Coach T.C. McCartney As Offensive Assistant

The Cleveland Browns have made another addition to the coaching staff. 

Head coach Kevin Stefanski has hired former Broncos quarterbacks coach T.C. McCartney as an offensive assistant according to cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot. 

#Browns Kevin Stefanski has hired former #Broncos QB coach T.C. McCartney as an offensive assistant, league source tells clevelanddotcom. He was also w/ the Browns in 2014 https://t.co/O5DVoDge2b

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) February 8, 2020

Broncos Moved On 

When the Broncos hired former New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur to become the new offensive coordinator, the franchise elected to get rid of McCartney. 

According to the report, Shurmur wanted to bring in his own quarterbacks coach. 

After hiring a new offensive coordinator, the Broncos have fired quarterbacks coach T.C. McCartney. https://t.co/3bEYssd3o6

— Coloradoan Sports (@ColoradoanSpts) January 16, 2020

McCartney’s Background

McCartney played quarterback at LSU as a backup and played in three games from 2007 to 2010. 

He pursued coaching and went on to be an assistant coach with the University of Colorado and LSU. 

At LSU, McCartney worked with current NFL running backs Leonard Fournette and Derrius Guice. 

McCartney made the jump to the NFL in 2014 as an assistant with the Browns.

He followed that with three years with the San Francisco 49ers as an assistant and quality control coach.

In 2019, he followed former offensive coordinator Rick Scangarello to Denver and coached Drew Lock, who won four of the five games he started. 

However, Shurmer wanted to bring in a familiar face as the franchise hired former Giants quarterbacks coach Mike Shula. 

Schula coached with Shurmer both seasons when the pair was with the Giants. 

Football Family

McCartney has ties to Colorado. 

He is the son of former Colorado quarterback Sal Aunese and the grandson of former Colorado head coach Bill McCartney. 

Q&A: Broncos QBs coach T.C. McCartney talks Drew Lock, return to Colorado and more https://t.co/a3NleG0zM7

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) December 15, 2019

Browns Appeal 

McCartney worked closely with Lock as a member of the Broncos. 

When Lock started, he posted a 4-1 record, seven touchdowns, three interceptions, and a passer rating of 89.7. 

Originally, Scangarello interviewed with Stefanski for an offensive coaching position, potentially as the offensive coordinator according to Cabot. 

If Scangarello was hired, it was rumored that McCartney would come along to become the new quarterback’s coach.

Instead, the Browns hired former Cincinnati Bengals quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt. 

In the end, Van Pelt liked McCartney enough to sway bringing him in. 

Van Pelt has spent his career coaching at the quarterback’s position and the two likely had a connection. 

Browns Likely Do Not Hire A QB Coach

His title will be an offensive assistant but he will likely assist the Browns in coaching the quarterbacks in addition to other duties. 

It’s possible that the Browns may not hire a quarterbacks coach and instead utilize the efforts of Van Pelt and McCartney. 

Don’t forget that Stefanski brings seven years of experience as a quarterbacks coach, so this appears to be the direction the Browns are headed. 

It’s unknown if the Browns will make a formal announcement though.