The Browns have officially announced the appointment of two new members of their coaching staff: assistant offensive line coach Roy Istvan and offensive line coach Andy Dickerson.
“We were all very impressed with Andy, along with his background and knowledge when we first met about our offensive coordinator position,” Kevin Stefanski, our head coach, remarked. He was one of the first people I called when our offensive line position became available. Andy is passionate about teaching and will infuse our linemen with his enthusiasm and energy. He is aware of the high bar that the room needs to meet for our offense to succeed, and we can see he is thrilled to be back in the building with this group.”
Bill Callahan left the Browns to take a position as offensive line coach with the Titans, where he now works under his son Brian, the team’s new head coach.
On February 5, Stefanski remarked, “Bill Callahan, very unique situation there to go work for Brian, not with Brian.” “He will be employed by Brian. I’m eager for Brian to take control of him. Every child wants to be in charge of their parents. I’m really glad for those guys. Organizationally, I believe we understood that was a special circumstance and did not want to impede it. And quite happy for Bill and Brian down there.”
After initially playing two seasons (2009–10) in Cleveland, including 2010 as an assistant offensive line coach, Dickerson re-joins the Browns. After working with Seattle for the previous three seasons, first as offensive line coach (2022–2023) and then as run game coordinator (2021), he is currently in his 19th season as an NFL coach.
From 2012 until 2020, Dickerson was the Rams’ assistant offensive line coach, helping to mold some of the best offensive teams in the league. With 22 sacks allowed, the Rams topped the NFL in 2019. The Rams got to Super Bowl LIII in 2018 after finishing second in the NFL with an average of 421.1 yards per game. In 2017, the Rams scored 29.9 points per game, the most in the NFL. Todd Gurley II, the running back, was voted the 2017 NFL Offensive Player of the Year and the 2015 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year thanks in part to his units. After starting his coaching career at his alma mater, Tufts University, Dickerson also played for the Jets (2011, 2006–08) and Patriots (2004–05).
From 2019 to 23 Istvan served as the Eagles’ assistant offensive line coach for five seasons, during which time he assisted the team in setting multiple franchise records and winning multiple individual awards. With single-season franchise records for points (477), total touchdowns (59), scrimmage touchdowns (57), rushing touchdowns (32) and total first downs (385), the Eagles made it to Super Bowl LVII. With a franchise-high 2,715 rushing yards in 2021, the Eagles took the league by storm. C First team All-Pro selections went to Jason Kelce (2019, 21–23), who was selected four times, while T Lane Johnson (2022) was selected once and twice to the second team (2021 and 2023).
Istvan was a college coach for 28 years before joining the Eagles. He has a combined 33 years of collegiate and professional coaching expertise.
One of the offensive line rooms that the Browns offense excelled in last season is now led by Dickerson and Istvan. Since losing T Jack Conklin to a season-ending knee injury in the opening week of the season, the offensive line has had multiple ailments. Due to injury, they also missed the latter part of the season without T Jedrick Wills Jr. and rookie T Dawand Jones, whose seasons were also cut short. They had players like T, but they were led by experienced players like G Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller.