Freddie Kitchens

Last updated

Freddie Kitchens
Freddie Kitchens and Baker Mayfield (49093197388) (cropped).jpg
Kitchens with the Cleveland Browns in 2019
North Carolina Tar Heels
Position:Tight ends coach & run game coordinator
Personal information
Born: (1974-11-29) November 29, 1974 (age 49)
Gadsden, Alabama, U.S.
Career information
High school: Attalla (AL) Etowah
College: Alabama
Career history
As a coach:
Head coaching record
Regular season:6–10 (.375)
Coaching stats at PFR

Charles Frederick Kitchens Jr. (born November 29, 1974) is an American football coach who is currently the tight ends coach and run game coordinator for the North Carolina Tar Heels. [1] He has served as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns and an assistant coach for the New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals, and Dallas Cowboys of the NFL. He has also spent stints as an assistant coach with Mississippi State, North Texas, LSU and Glenville State of the NCAA. He was fired in 2019 after his lone season as a head coach when his Browns team ended with a 6-10 record.

Contents

Playing career

Freddie Kitchens was a quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide from 1993 to 1997, during which time he threw for 4,668 passing yards and 30 touchdowns. In his three seasons as a starter, Alabama won the 1995 Citrus Bowl, and the 1997 Outback Bowl. [2]

At the time of his departure, he ranked third in the school's history in career passing attempts, fourth in career passing yards, and fifth in career completions. [3]

During his time at Alabama, Kitchens was given the nickname Thick by offensive coordinator Bruce Arians. [4]

Statistics

SeasonGamesPassingRushing
GPCompAttPctYardsAvgTDIntRateAttYardsAvgTD
Alabama Crimson Tide
1993 671450.018813.423167.18-12-1.50
1994 DNP
1995 76312749.68116.435103.250531.10
1996 1215330250.32,1247.01414115.486-127-1.51
1997 1112123751.11,5456.5114117.848150.31
Career [5] 3634368050.44,6686.93026115.0192-71-0.42

Coaching career

Dallas Cowboys

Following his college playing career, he served as an assistant coach for several college teams, before joining the Dallas Cowboys staff as tight ends coach in 2006 [6] under Bill Parcells.

Arizona Cardinals

Kitchens then worked on the Arizona Cardinals staff for 11 years, from 2007 to 2017. In 2008, Kitchens' 2nd year with the team, the Cardinals appeared in Super Bowl XLIII, their first Super Bowl in franchise history but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-23. He coached multiple positions, including tight ends, quarterbacks, and running backs. [7]

Cleveland Browns

2018

In 2018, Kitchens was hired as running backs coach for the Cleveland Browns. [8]

On October 29, after week 8 of the season, the Browns fired head coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley. Gregg Williams was named interim head coach, and Kitchens was promoted to offensive coordinator. [9] The Browns finished the season with a 5–3 record, after a 2–5–1 start under Jackson. Kitchens was credited for the improvement of the Browns offense and was also acknowledged for helping Baker Mayfield have a successful rookie season. Mayfield was the runner-up for NFL rookie of the year.

2019

On January 12, 2019, Kitchens was promoted to the head coaching position by the Cleveland Browns. [10] He was the 17th head coach in Browns history, and the ninth since the franchise's reactivation in 1999.

On September 8, 2019, the Browns lost to the Tennessee Titans by a score of 43–13 in Kitchens' head coaching debut. The loss marked the 15th consecutive Week One without a win for the Browns. Kitchens was fired a few hours after the final game of the season, a 33-23 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. The Browns finished the season with a disappointing 6-10 record. [11]

New York Giants

On January 27, 2020, the New York Giants hired Kitchens as their tight ends coach. [12] His hiring was strongly supported by newly hired Giants head coach Joe Judge, who had worked with Kitchens at Mississippi State. The two are reportedly good friends. [13] When Giants offensive coordinator Jason Garrett tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the Giants' Sunday night game against the Cleveland Browns, Kitchens' former team, Kitchens was named offensive coordinator and play-caller for the game. [14] The Giants would go on to lose to the Browns 20-6. [15] It was announced for the 2021 season he would switch positions and become senior offensive assistant. [16] Following the firing of Jason Garrett, Kitchens was named interim offensive coordinator for the Giants. Kitchens was released after the 2021 season following the firing of Judge.

South Carolina

On May 18, 2022, Kitchens was hired to be a senior analyst for the South Carolina Gamecocks under head coach Shane Beamer. [17]

North Carolina

On February 27, 2023, it was reported that Kitchens was joining Mack Brown's staff at North Carolina as tight ends coach, replacing John Lilly. [1] He was formally introduced on March 1, 2023, at the team's press conference to kick off spring practice.

Head coaching record

TeamYearRegular seasonPostseason
WonLostTiesWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
CLE 2019 6100.3753rd in AFC North————
Total6100.37500.000

Personal life

Kitchens has two daughters with his wife, Ginger. [18]

In 2013, Kitchens underwent emergency surgery to repair an aortic dissection. [18] [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Romeo Crennel</span> American football player and coach (born 1947)

Romeo Crennel is a former American football coach, who was the senior advisor for football performance for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). A former long-time coaching assistant to Bill Parcells, Crennel served as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns from 2005 to 2008 and the Kansas City Chiefs in 2012, as well an assistant coach for six NFL teams and four collegiate teams. He has over 50 years of coaching experience, which has included consistently being employed as a coach for all but two seasons since 1970, only taking the 2009 and 2013 seasons off following both of his tenures as a permanent head coach. He has five Super Bowl wins as assistant coach, two with the New York Giants and three with the New England Patriots.

Mike Shula is an American football coach who is the Offensive Analyst for the South Carolina Gamecocks of the South Eastern Conference (SEC). He played college football as a quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide and was the school's head coach from 2003 to 2006. He was the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996 to 1999, the Carolina Panthers from 2013 to 2017, and the New York Giants from 2018 to 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ken Whisenhunt</span> American football player and coach (born 1962)

Kenneth Moore Whisenhunt is an American football coach and former tight end who is currently a special assistant to the head coach for Alabama. He played college football at Georgia Tech and was drafted in the twelfth round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons, with whom he played for four years. He subsequently played two more years with the Washington Redskins and another two with the New York Jets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ken Zampese</span> American football coach (born 1967)

Kenneth Zampese is an American football coach who is a senior offensive assistant for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). Zampese began his coaching career at the University of San Diego, his alma mater, and has held a variety of college and NFL coaching positions. He is the son of former NFL coach Ernie Zampese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Davis (American football coach)</span> American football player and coach (born 1965)

Bill Davis is an American football coach who is the linebackers coach for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derek Dooley (American football)</span> American football player and coach (born 1968)

Derek Dooley is an American football coach and former player who is a senior offensive analyst for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He served as the head football coach at Louisiana Tech University from 2007 to 2009 and the University of Tennessee from 2010 to 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Chudzinski</span> American football player and coach (born 1968)

Robert Matthew Chudzinski is an American football coach who is currently the associate head coach on offense for the Boston College Eagles. Chudzinski was the offensive coordinator for several National Football League (NFL) teams and was the head coach of the Cleveland Browns during the 2013 NFL season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Arians</span> American football player and coach (born 1952)

Bruce Charles Arians is an American football executive and former coach in the National Football League (NFL). Since 2022, he has been a senior football consultant for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Arians was previously the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals from 2013 to 2017 and the Buccaneers from 2019 to 2021. He was also the interim head coach of the Indianapolis Colts during the 2012 season. Arians is known for his slogan "No risk-it, no biscuit," which encourages aggressive playcalling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat Shurmur</span> American football player and coach (born 1965)

Patrick Carl Shurmur is an American football coach who serves as the offensive coordinator at the University of Colorado Boulder. Prior to joining the staff at Colorado, he most recently served as the offensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL) from 2020 to 2021. A 32-year coaching veteran, Shurmur has 21 seasons of NFL experience, including the last 11 years as a head coach or offensive coordinator. Shurmur has four years of experience as a head coach, working in that role with the New York Giants from 2018 to 2019 and with the Cleveland Browns from 2011 to 2012. He also served as interim head coach for Philadelphia Eagles at the end of the 2015 season. He has been an offensive coordinator for seven seasons, previously coaching in that role with the Minnesota Vikings (2016–2017), Philadelphia Eagles (2013–2015) and the St. Louis Rams (2009–2010).

This article details the history of the Arizona Cardinals American football club, which can be traced to the 1898 formation of the amateur Morgan Athletic Club in Chicago. The Cardinals are the oldest extant professional football club in the United States, and along with the Chicago Bears, are one of two charter members of the National Football League still in existence. The franchise moved from Chicago to St. Louis in 1960 and to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill O'Brien (American football)</span> American football coach (born 1969)

William James O'Brien, nicknamed "the Teapot", is an American football coach who is currently the head coach at Boston College. Previously, he was the head coach of the Houston Texans from 2014 to 2020, and at Penn State from 2012 to 2013. Prior to Boston College, O'Brien was the offensive coordinator at the University of Alabama and for the New England Patriots. After the Patriots parted ways with longtime head coach Bill Belichick at the end of the 2023 season, O'Brien was not retained by the team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Daboll</span> Canadian-born American football coach (born 1975)

Brian Michael Daboll is a Canadian-born American football coach who is the head coach for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Alabama Crimson Tide, and Buffalo Bills. Daboll has also served in various capacities as an assistant coach for the New England Patriots from 2000 to 2006 and again from 2013 to 2016.

Steven Bernard Wilks is an American football coach and former player. He last served as the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers. He served as the head coach for the Arizona Cardinals in 2018. He has also served as defensive backs coach for the Chicago Bears and San Diego Chargers, as well as the defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns and Missouri. He played college football at Appalachian State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyke Tolbert</span> American football player and coach (born 1967)

Tyke Tolbert is an American football coach and former player who is the wide receivers coach for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). Tolbert previously served as wide receivers coach for the Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos and New York Giants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Dray</span> American football player and coach (born 1986)

James Russell Dray is an American football coach and former tight end who is currently the tight ends coach for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Stanford and was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He also played for the Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, and San Francisco 49ers.

Todd Robert Monken is an American football coach who is the offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He is also the former offensive coordinator for the University of Georgia, Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Oklahoma State University and Eastern Michigan University, as well as the former head coach at the University of Southern Mississippi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al Holcomb</span> American football coach

Al Holcomb is an American football coach who is the linebackers coach for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the interim defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers and as an assistant coach for the Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John DeFilippo</span> American football player and coach (born 1978)

John Eugene DeFilippo is an American football coach for the Memphis Showboats of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football as a quarterback at James Madison University, and has served as offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings, and Jacksonville Jaguars.

The 2019 season was the Cleveland Browns' 67th in the National Football League (NFL), their 71st overall, their second full season under general manager John Dorsey and their only season under head coach Freddie Kitchens. They finished 6–10 despite entering the season with high expectations, failing to improve on their 7–8–1 record from 2018 or end their franchise-record and league-high 16-year playoff drought. They also suffered a 12th consecutive losing season, also a franchise record and the longest such streak in the league. Following the season, the Browns fired Kitchens after one season and Dorsey left his position as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 North Carolina Tar Heels football team</span> American college football season

The 2023 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tar Heels were led by head coach Mack Brown, who was in the fifth season of his second stint at North Carolina and 15th overall season at the university. The team played their home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium.

References

  1. 1 2 Martin, Ross (February 27, 2023). "UNC to Hire Freddie Kitchens as New Tight End Coach". InsideCarolina.com. 247 Sports. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  2. ↑ Edwards, Josh (November 29, 2018). "Freddie Kitchens has fun at Nick Chubb's expense in practice" . Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Freddie Kitchens". www.clevelandbrowns.com. Archived from the original on January 10, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  4. ↑ Kinnamon, Casey (August 23, 2019). "Freddie Kitchens and Bruce Arians come full circle". dawgpounddaily.com. fansided. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Freddie Kitchens School: Alabama Position: QB". sports-reference.com. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  6. ↑ "New TE Coach Kitchens Makes Jump To NFL". DallasCowboys.com. June 29, 2006. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  7. ↑ Cabot, Mary Kay (January 8, 2019). "Freddie Kitchens has a good chance of being named the Browns head coach, sources say". Cleveland.com. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  8. ↑ Risdon, Jeff (January 24, 2018). "Browns hire Freddie Kitchens as new RB coach". USA Today. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  9. ↑ Bielik, Tim (October 29, 2018). "Freddie Kitchens named Browns offensive coordinator: Get to know more about him". Cleveland.com. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  10. ↑ Gribble, Andrew (January 12, 2019). "Freddie Kitchens named Browns head coach". NFL.com. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  11. ↑ McConnell, Martin (September 8, 2019). "Cleveland Browns: Week 1 loss to Tennessee instant reactions". Dawg Pound Daily. Fansided.
  12. ↑ Ranaan, Jordan (January 27, 2020). "Ex-Browns coach Freddie Kitchens joins Giants as tight ends coach, source says". ESPN. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  13. ↑ Benton, Dan (January 28, 2020). "Giants' Joe Judge 'was adamant' that Freddie Kitchens join his staff". USA Today. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  14. ↑ Eisen, Michael (December 17, 2020). "Jason Garrett tests positive for COVID-19; Freddie Kitchens to call plays vs. Browns". Giants.com. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  15. ↑ New York Giants. "Freddie Kitchens on calling plays vs. Browns". New York Giants.
  16. ↑ "New York Giants: Freddie Kitchens's promotion could lead to a more vertical offense". Empire Sports Media. July 26, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  17. ↑ Lananna, Michael (May 18, 2022). "Freddie Kitchens, former NFL head coach, join's South Carolina football staff". Charlotteobserver.com.
  18. 1 2 Somers, Kent (June 5, 2013). "Cardinals QB coach undergoes emergency heart surgery". USA Today. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  19. ↑ Reed, Jesse (January 9, 2020). "Giants HC Joe Judge looking into signing Freddie Kitchens to offensive staff". yardbarker.com. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.