CLEVELAND -- The Browns' revamped offensive coaching staff is complete as the team is hiring former New England Patriots quarterback Kevin O'Connell as quarterbacks coach and former Florida offensive coordinator Kurt Roper as a senior offensive assistant, according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation.
Fox Sports first reported the news.
O'Connell, 29, was a third-round pick in 2008 who eventually lost the backup Patriots job to Brian Hoyer, the Browns' starter for much of 2014 and a pending free agent. O'Connell was a private quarterbacks coach who worked extensively with Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel leading up to the draft in May.
Manziel struggled in his rookie year, completing 18 of 35 passes for 175 yards, two interceptions and a 42.0 rating.
The Browns feel O'Connell's work with Manziel doesn't hurt but didn't consider that relationship a huge selling point in the interview process, according to a source, believing O'Connell was the most qualified candidate regardless of who leads the offense.
Between O'Connell and 36-year-old offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, the Browns bypassed the retread route and are betting on up-and-coming coaches to fix the team's quarterback woes. Roper was Duke's offensive coordinator before taking the job at Florida, which fired coach Will Muschamp last year.