Cleveland Browns hire John Dorsey as their new general manager
By Matt Conner
The Cleveland Browns have hired John Dorsey, former general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs, to occupy the same role in their front office.
It didn’t take John Dorsey very long to find a new job—not that anyone expected the former Kansas City Chiefs general manager to even last very long on the open market.
Just a few months after giving Dorsey permission to leave early rather than finish out his five-year deal in Kansas City, the former Green Bay Packers executive has signed on with the NFL’s most miserable franchise, the Cleveland Browns, in hopes of being the savior in a town that has experienced more turnover in the front office and on the sidelines over the last several years.
Fortunately for Cleveland, they might actually have the right hire this time. Dorsey was named the NFL’s Executive of the Year in 2013 and was an incredible general manager with the Chiefs, by most accounts. He was able to piece together a very talented roster in Kansas City, reversing course quickly after having the NFL’s overall worst record in 2012 to competing in the playoffs nearly every season he was in K.C.
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In his opening remarks to the Cleveland press, Dorsey even referenced his days in K.C. as part of what could give him a good feel for his new city, as both are towns with a passionate football audience.
"“Football is what I know, it is what I love, it is what I have worked my whole career at and I thrive on every element that goes into building a winning football team,” said Dorsey. “I have spent a majority of my football life with two franchises that also have storied history and I think I have a feel for the mentality of the fans in Cleveland and what it would mean to recreate the success this franchise once had.”"
An unexplained rift between Dorsey and team owner Clark Hunt is to blame for his departure, although details have never been revealed about what specifically was at stake. The Chiefs allowed Dorsey’s deal to expire (and gave him permission to even leave early) while simultaneously deciding to re-up Andy Reid for another five seasons as head coach.
The Chiefs won 67 percent of their games during Dorsey’s tenure.