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The Arizona Cardinals add former Browns’ offensive assistant Jim Dray to their coaching staff, according to ESPN’s Field Yates.
Browns HC Kevin Stefanski is not retaining these assistants: Ryan Lindley (QB), John Lilly (TE), John Parella (Asst DL), Deuce Schwartz (Def QC), Tyler Tettelton (Off QC), Alonso Escalante (Def QC), Jody Wright (Off Asst). Off Asst Jim Dray has been hired by Arizona.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 21, 2020
Dray was a seventh round pick by the Cardinals in the 2010 draft. In his nine-year career, he caught 56 passes for 605 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He also played for the Browns, Bills, and 49ers.
He was never a receiving threat in his time in the NFL but was a solid blocking tight end, which was why he became such a fan favorite in Arizona. He was also a quality special teams player.
After his days as an NFL tight end was over, he entered the coaching ranks and was hired as an offensive assistant at his alma mater Stanford in 2018. He joined Freddie Kitchen’s coaching staff with the Browns as an offensive quality control coach last January.
With Kitchens relieved of his duties as a head coach, he was not retained by Cleveland but rejoins Arizona as a coach.
The Cardinals recently fired five of their assistant coaches, though no official announcement was made by the team:
- Defensive line coach Chris Achuff
- Defensive assistant Chris Wilson
- Assistant wide receivers coach Peter Badovinac
- Assistant special teams coach Randall McCray
- Assistant strength and conditioning coach Vernon Stephens
Spencer Whipple is currently the Cardinals offensive quality control coach and Steve Heiden is their tight ends coach. It is possible that Dray will bear the title as an assistant to both positions.
The Cardinals clearly want to be better on all aspects of the team, with the coaching staff being the first order of change. GM Steve Keim and HC Kliff Kingsbury are working hard to ensure better success for this organization in the 2020 season.