Dallas Cowboys hiring Ken Dorsey as pass-game specialist

The Dallas Cowboys are hiring Ken Dorsey as their pass-game specialist, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Monday.

Dorsey, 43, spent the 2024 season as offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland struggled on offense, finishing as the 28th ranked unit in the NFL. The Browns, who went 3-14, fired Dorsey after the season. Dorsey did not start the season as the team’s play caller but took over the role midway through the season.

Before joining Kevin Stefanski‘s staff, Dorsey worked under Sean McDermott as offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills. Dorsey called plays in 2022 and for 10 games in ’23 before his midseason firing. Altogether, Dorsey spent nearly five seasons in Buffalo. The previous five were spent as quarterbacks coach for the Carolina Panthers.

Dorsey, who spent six seasons playing in the NFL, quarterbacked Miami to a National Championship in 2001. He won the Maxwell Award that season as the most outstanding player in college football.

Ken Dorsey added to new-look Cowboys coaching staff

Dorsey will now work under newly hired Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer, who is replacing Mike McCarthy. The Cowboys officially parted ways with McCarthy on Jan. 13, after he failed to lead the team to the playoffs. During McCarthy’s four years at the helm of the organization, the Cowboys posted a 49-35 record and a 1-3 mark in the postseason.

The Cowboys initially hired Schottenheimer as a consultant in 2022. However, he was promoted to offensive coordinator on Feb. 4, 2023. Now, Schottenheimer will take the final step on the staff ladder and have a chance to lead the Cowboys.

The Cowboys averaged 328.4 yards per game this past season under Schottenheimer’s guidance. While the figure still ranked in the top half of the league, the Cowboys were at a disadvantage, with key offensive players like quarterback Dak Prescott and receiver Brandin Cooks missing large chunks of the season due to injury.

A more telling representation of Schottenheimer’s success as offensive coordinator was the Cowboys’ 2023 campaign when they averaged 371.6 yards per game, the fifth-most in the NFL. Now, Schottenheimer will have a chance to build on the promising flashes he’s shown.

On3’s Grant Grubbs contributed to this article.