Browns Hire Former Steelers Running Back to Coaching Staff

The Cleveland Browns have hired former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Duce Staley to their coaching staff, according to a report by Josina Anderson of CBS Sports.

Previously, Staley spent his first 11 seasons as a coach within the Philadelphia Eagles organization. Starting as a special teams quality control coach (2011-2012), Staley worked his way up to running backs coach (2013-2020) and eventually assistant head coach (2018-2020). After being passed over for promotions, Staley requested a release from his contract with the Eagles and was granted it.

Shortly after he departed from the Eagles, Staley was hired to become the running backs coach and assistant head coach under Dan Campbell in Detroit. Staley stayed in that role with the Lions for two seasons before venturing onto his next destination.

Before this past season, Staley agreed to join Frank Reich in Carolina to be the Panthers’ assistant head coach and running backs coach. Staley was fired on Nov. 27, 2023, along with Reich and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown.

Selected in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Eagles, Staley played the first seven years of his career in Philadelphia and totaled 4,807 rushing yards with the team.

Then, Staley traveled across the state and joined the Steelers for the final three seasons of his career. During his time with the Steelers, Staley won Super Bowl XL in 2005. He rushed for 978 yards and two touchdowns in his time with the Steelers.

Staley was an outside candidate to become the Steelers’ next offensive coordinator but was ultimately underqualified for what Mike Tomlin wanted in his future offensive play-caller. Even so, with the future of Eddie Faulkner’s time in Pittsburgh in limbo, Staley may have been a candidate for the Steelers’ running backs coach vacancy, if there was to be one this offseason.

Regardless, Staley now joins the Steelers divisional rival and will coach against his former team twice a season for the foreseeable future.