Freddie Kitchens became the 17th head coach in Browns history when he was promoted from offensive coordinator in January 2019. With that job, he's trying to become the franchise's first coach to post a winning record overall since Marty Schottenheimer more than 30 years ago.
Kitchens worked for four NCAA programs and two other NFL organizations before getting his shot in Cleveland.
So who is Freddie Kitchens? Let's take a closer look at the head coach.
Freddie Kitchens age: How old is the Browns coach?
Kitchens turns 45 on Nov. 29, a day before Thanksgiving. He is married and he and his wife Ginger have two daughters, Bennett and Camden.
Where is Freddie Kitchens from?
Kitchens was born in Gadsden, Ala. He also attended and played high school football in the northeastern part of the state, for Etowah in nearby Attalia. He was recruited to stay in state as a quarterback.
Where did Freddie Kitchens go to college?
Kitchens played quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide from 1993 to 1997 for two coaches, Gene Stallings and Mike DuBose. The program won the national championship with Stallings right before Kitchens got there. He succeeded Jay Barker at QB and was ahead of Andrew Zow.
During his time with the Tide, Kitchens went 22-13 as a starter, posting a total of 4,668 yards passing with 30 touchdowns and 26 interceptions. He led the team to three bowl victories — Gator over North Carolina, Citrus over Ohio State and Outback over Michigan.
What did Freddie Kitchens do before coaching?
Before he landed with Division II Glenville State in West Virginia to oversee running backs and tight ends in 1999, Kitchens worked as a car salesman at Magnolia BMW in Tuscaloosa, right down the road from Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium.
According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Kitchens was salesman of the month for two of his three months at the dealership but was unhappy doing it and his true calling was coaching.
Who are Freddie Ktichens' coaching mentors?
Kitchens went from Glenville State to work under future Alabama national championship-winning coach Nick Saban as a graduate assistant at LSU in '00. Six years later, with his first NFL gig as Cowboys tight ends coach in '06, he worked under two-time Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Parcells.
From his 11 seasons coaching various offensive positions with the Cardinals from '07 through '17, his main influence was Bruce Arians. Many of his offensive concepts for the Browns and quarterback Baker Mayfield come from Arians' version of the aggressive downfield passing game.
What was Freddie Kitchens' health scare with the Cardinals?
Back in June 2013, when Kitchens was only 38, his life was saved after he felt dizziness and chest pain during an organized team activity. With the help of the quarterbacks he was coaching at the time, Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton, Arizona's training staff quickly recognized that Kitchens needed to be immediately hospitalized for a heart condition.
It was discovered that Kitchens had an aortic dissection, which put on him the brink of a fatal rupture. He was given only a 20 percent chance to survive, but after a lengthy half-day surgery that included replacing a heart valve, Kitchens made a full recovery and was able to resume his coaching career two months later in training camp.
How did Freddie Kitchens get to the Browns?
Arians stepped away from the Cardinals after the '17 season before resuming his career with the Buccaneers in '19. When that happened, Kitchens filled the open spot for a running backs coach in Cleveland after Kirby Wilson ended up going to Arizona.
When both coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley were fired on Oct. 29 after a disappointing 2-5-1 start, Kitchens was needed to replace Haley. After the offensive-fueled 5-3 finish with Mayfield in the second half under defensive coordinator turned interim coach Gregg Williams, Kitchens was the one offered the full-time job.
Kitchens brought it again back to Arizona by going with one-season Cardinals coach Steve Wilks as his defensive coordinator.
Does Freddie Kitchens still call offensive plays?
Despite some criticism for maintaining the added scheming responsibility beyond his gameday sideline leadership and some mixed early results with wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in the mix, Kitchens continues to prove he can be a very creative play-caller.
Offensive coordinator Todd Monken did call plays for the Buccaneers under Dirk Koetter last season but he came off shaky work with Jameis Winston. Kitchens was the key to getting an efficient and confident Mayfield as a rookie, and has proved he can commit to getting the best out of running back Nick Chubb, too.
