(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns Head Coach Freddie Kitchens announced today that the team has named Joe Whitt as pass game coordinator/secondary coach, Al Holcomb as run game coordinator/linebackers coach, Chris Jones as senior defensive assistant, Tosh Lupoi as defensive line coach, John Lilly as tight ends coach, John Parrellla as assistant defensive line coach and Jeff Nlasko as assistant offensive line coach. In addition, Adam Henry will remain wide receivers caoch and Dewayne Walker will remain defensive backs coach.
Joe Whitt
Joe Whitt enters his 13th season in the NFL in 2018 and first with the Browns as the team's pass game coordinator/secondary coach. Whitt spent the last 11 years with the Green Bay Packers, where he helped the team win Super Bowl XLV.
Whitt comes to the Browns after serving as the Packers defense-pass game coordinator in 2018. Prior to his promotion last season, Whitt was the team's secondary/cornerbacks coach from 2009-17. During that time, he coached the Packers to a league-high 176 interceptions and a No. 9 ranking in opponent passer rating (83.2). In the same span, the Packers also ranked No. 7 in opponent completion percentage (59.8%) and No. 7 in touchdown-to-interception ratio (1.34).
Al Holcomb
This will mark Holcomb's 11th season coaching in the NFL and 25th overall as a coach. Holcomb has spent the past six seasons working with Browns defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.
Holcomb spent 2018 as Arizona's defensive coordinator following five seasons as Carolina's linebackers coach. Under his guidance, Linebackers Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis became one of the best linebacker duos in the NFL. Kuechly was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2013, was chosen to five consecutive pro bowls and was named first team All-Pro four times. Davis made three consecutive Pro Bowls and was named first team All-Pro in 2015. He reached the 100 tackle plateau in four of five seasons under Holcomb.
Chris Jones
Jones Enters his first season in the NFL after 17 years in the Canadian Football League coaching ranks, where he helped his teams to four Grey Cup championships and was named CFL Coach of the Year in 2018.
Jones comes to the Browns after three seasons as the Saskatchewan Roughriders vice-president of football operations, general manager and head coach. Under his tutelage, the Roughriders improved from a five-win season in 2016 to a 10-8 record in 2017 and a 12-6 tally last year.
Tosh Lupoi
Lupoi has coached onj the collegiate level the past 11 years, including the last five seasons at Alabama.
At Alabama, Lupoi joined the staff as a defensive analyst for the 2014 season and coached the outside linebackers in 2015. He added the title of co-defensive coordinator prior to the 2016 season and served as defensive coordinator in 2018. During his time at Alabama, the Crimson Tide qualified to the College Football Playoffs all five seasons, advanced to the National Championship game four times and captured two natural championships. During his time as coordinator, Alabama led the nation in total defense in 2016 and 2017. Lupoi worked with several players who went on to be furst round picks in the NFL including DE Jonathon Allen, LB Rueben Foster, S Minkah Fitzpatrick, NT Daron Payne and LB Rashaan Evans.
John Lilly
John Lilly brings more than 25 years of coaching experience to the Browns' staff. Lilly spent 2018 at the University of Tennessee as the assistant to the head coach following a one-year stint at the Los Angeles Rams tight ends coach, With the Rams, he helped tight end Lance Kendricks record a career-high 50 receptions.
John Parrella
In addition to 10 years of experience as a coach, Parrella played 12 seasons in the NFL as a defensive tackle.
Parrella spent 2018 developing professional football hopefuls at The Spring League am elite development league and scouting showcase for professional football talent. Parrella spent 2 yearas (2016-17) coaching the defensive line at his alma mater, Nebraska. In his first season leading Nebraska's defensive line, the front combined for 185 tackles, 17 sacks, 35 tackles for loss and was part of a defense that ranked in the top 35 nationally in total defense and scoring defense. He had two players earn honorable mention Big Ten honors.
Jeff Blasko
Blasko has spent the past three years with the Green Bay Packers. He was originally hired by the Packers in 2016 as a coaching administrator and was elevated to assistant offensive line coach under current Browns associate head coach/offensive line coach James Campen in 2017. Blasko helped OT David Bakhitiari earn first team All-Pro honors in 2018 and second team honors in 2016 and 2017.