FRIDAY, 8:49am: The Browns have officially confirmed the hiring of Horton as the team’s defensive coordinator, along with the other moves noted below and a few more. Here’s the full list of coaches and titles announced today by the team:
- Ray Horton, defensive coordinator
- Pep Hamilton, associate head coach/offense
- Al Saunders, offensive assistant/wide receivers
- Kirby Wilson, running backs/run game coordinator
- Hal Hunter, offensive line
- Mark Hudson, assistant offensive line
- Greg Seamon, tight ends
- Bob Saunders, offensive quality control
- Shawn Mennenga, special teams assistant
- Stan Watson, special teams quality control
WEDNESDAY, 7:32pm: In addition to naming Saunders, Hamilton and Wilson to his offensive staff, Jackson has hired Hal Hunter as his O-line coach, Breer tweets. Hunter had been the Colts’ assistant O-line coach since 2013. He was at the helm of the Chargers’ line from 2006-12.
5:08pm: The Browns’ Hue Jackson-led coaching staff is rounding into form. Jackson has hired Ray Horton as his defensive coordinator, reports Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (Twitter link).
Additionally, the Browns have addressed their offensive staff by hiring Al Saunders as a senior assistant, according to Cabot (Twitter link), Pep Hamilton as assistant head coach/offense and Kirby Wilson as their running game coordinator (Twitter links via ESPN’s Josina Anderson).
The last few days have been a whirlwind for Horton, who appeared likely to join the Browns before a report came out that he was negotiating a contract extension with the Titans – whose defensive he coordinated over 
the last two seasons. However, the extension didn’t come to fruition and Horton interviewed with the Browns to become their new D-coordinator on Tuesday. Horton is familiar with Cleveland, having coordinated its defense to a top 10 ranking in 2013. Before that, he worked in the same capacity in Arizona from 2011-12. Horton’s defense in Tennessee finished 12th overall in 2015-16, but the team seemingly marginalized his role in the offseason when it hired Dick LeBeau as an assistant head coach. LeBeau was given “complete control” of the defense, and Horton had to report to him during the season as a result. Horton has already put in requests to bring some of the Titans’ defensive coaches to Cleveland, according to Cabot (Twitter link), as he tries to improve a Browns ‘D’ that finished 27th in the league in 2015-16.
Jackson and Saunders have a working relationship that dates back to the 2009 season, when both were with the Ravens. Saunders was also on Jackson’s staff when Jackson was the Raiders’ head coach in 2011. This is the fourth decade in which Saunders has worked as an offensive assistant at the NFL level. The 68-year-old spent this season on the Dolphins’ staff and has been an offensive coordinator with four different teams. While the Browns will value Saunders’ input, Jackson will call the plays.
Hamilton was the Colts’ O-coordinator from 2013 until this past November, when they fired him after their third-ranked attack in 2014 regressed significantly. Part of his duties in Cleveland will entail working with quarterbacks, tweets Albert Breer of NFL.com. Cabot reports (via Twitter) that he’ll be the Browns’ passing game coordinator. The 41-year-old has plenty of experience in that realm, having coached QBs with the Jets (2004), 49ers (2006) and Bears (2007-09) at the pro level.
Prior to joining the Browns, Wilson worked with running backs for six different NFL organizations since 1997, having spent the last three years in Minnesota. The Vikings attempted to keep Wilson, according to ESPN’s Ben Goessling, but the expiration of his contract enabled him to land a promotion with the Browns.
Dallas Robinson contributed to this report. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Bringing in his own talent. This is a fairly respected group in my opinion. Saunders, of course, has been around and Horton has been through the wringer here. Offensive line coach will be important. Hue likes a simple trap or pulling guard and a quick hitter. Not real fancy on the run. Pass is another game completely. According to the experts, looks like Hue likes multiple forms and spread it out. Deep chucks to big receivers. Dog Pound will be pounding if we’ve got an arm at QB.
This is like a “hell freezing over” moment. The Cleveland Browns are hiring a completely competent and highly skilled coaching staff. Are we finally going to see them make their way UP the standings?
As a Bengals diehard fan, we hated to see Hue go. However, this is well deserved and looks on paper like a hopeful beginng. We still want to beat his teams butt when we play. Otherwise, we hope for the best for him. Please Hue do not steal any of our good talent and coaches. Make Bob Seamon our only casualty!
Saunders is there to install the gameplan during the week, to essentially teach the players the fundamentals tenets of Hue’s system, the exact same thing he did for Hue in 2011.