Despite injuries to their starting backfield, the Cleveland Browns made noise in the AFC this season. They secured the top AFC Wild Card spot, won eleven games, and finished with a positive score differential. However, a brutal loss during Super Wild Card Weekend leaves the franchise with a bitter taste in their mouth to end the year. In a move to further entrench the Browns as Super Bowl contenders, the team made a move regarding their coaching staff on Saturday. Per Tom Pelissero, Cleveland will hire former Houston Texans assistant Jacques Cesaire as their defensive line coach for the 2024 season.
The #Browns are hiring Jacques Cesaire as their defensive line coach, per source.
A nine-year NFL veteran as a player, Cesaire coached Houston’s D-line the past two seasons.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 27, 2024
Ben Bloom operated with that title last season. He has worked with the Browns since 2020, and there remains no indication that Cleveland has decided to part ways with the longtime assistant coach. Bloom will likely move to another vacant position on Kevin Stefanski’s staff. Chris Kiffin served as the team’s defensive line coach from 2020 to 2022 but took the linebackers job with the Houston Texans this season.
Jacques Cesaire: Leaves Houston for Cleveland Browns
Last offseason, the Houston Texans poached Cleveland’s defensive line coach, and this year, the Browns have returned the favor by snagging Jacques Cesaire. The former San Diego Chargers’ defensive end played nine years in the NFL before transitioning to media. Cesaire’s time in front of the camera was short-lived, with the Southern Connecticut product moving into coaching in 2015. He served as the defensive line coach with the San Diego Toreros until 2019, working under head coach Dale Lindsay. San Diego won the Pioneer Football League each year with Cesaire.
The Massachusetts native moved to the NFL in 2020, taking the same job title with Sean McDermott and the Buffalo Bills. He spent two seasons with the AFC East club, winning the division both years. Undrafted free agent turned standout Mario Addison tallied 12 sacks under Cesaire. The assistant coach again moved in 2022, taking the DL job with the Houston Texans. After a three-win season during his first year with the Texans, they won ten games in 2023 and punched their ticket to the postseason. The duo of Jonathan Greenard and rookie Will Anderson combined for 19.5 sacks.
Cleveland Browns: Elite Defensive Line
Jacques Cesaire will have plenty of talent to work with next season. Former Defensive Player of the Year winner Myles Garrett headlines Cleveland’s defensive line. The superstar posted 14 sacks this season. Za’Darius Smith and Alex Wright also had at least five sacks this season.
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