Two former Notre Dame players claim NFL assistant coaching positions
The NFL coaching carousel continues to spin. Two former Notre Dame football players have claimed positions with NFL teams.
On Monday, the Cleveland Browns announced Tommy Rees as their tight ends/pass game specialist. Two days earlier, on Saturday, the Miami Dolphins tapped Anthony Weaver as their defensive coordinator.
Rees played quarterback for the Fighting Irish from 2010-13. He also served as the program’s quarterbacks coach from 2017-19 before adding offensive coordinator responsibilities from 2020-22.
Weaver was a four-year starter and an All-Amerca defensive lineman for Notre Dame. The Baltimore Ravens drafted him at No. 52 overall in the 2002 NFL Draft.
Here are details on Rees’ and Weaver’s coaching résumés prior to their new positions.
Browns hire former Notre Dame quarterback, offensive coordinator Tommy Rees as tight ends coach
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski hired Rees as an assistant coach after he spent one season as the University of Alabama’s offensive coordinator. Under Rees’ direction, the Crimson Tide had the No. 56 offense in the FBS in 2023, averaging just over 393 yards per game.
“Tommy has established himself as one of the top assistant coaches in college football and I have no doubt that will transition to the NFL,” Stefanski said. “He has an incredible football acumen and I look forward to bringing his insight and unique perspective from top college programs to our offense.”
Rees’ role with the Browns will mark his second stint in the NFL. Before he returned to his alma mater in 2016, Rees was an offensive assistant for the San Diego Chargers. He began coaching as a graduate assistant working with the Northwestern offense in 2015.
Dolphins hire former Notre Dame defensive end Anthony Weaver as defensive coordinator
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel chose Weaver to replace veteran defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, 65, who left Miami for the same position with the Philadelphia Eagles. Weaver joined the Dolphins after three years (2021-23) as the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive line coach.
“I am excited to add Anthony to our staff, not only for what he will bring to the Dolphins as a teacher and coach but even more so who he is as a leader of men,” McDaniel said. “He has a proven resume of success, built on his personal investment in his players. Most importantly, he shares our belief that player development is the cornerstone to both team building and sustained excellence.
“Through conversations with him and those who have worked with him, it became clear that we have aligned values in football philosophies and coaching.”
In addition to his role as the Ravens defensive line coach, he was the team’s run game coordinator in 2021 and assistant head coach from 2022-23. Before his time in Baltimore, he was the Houston Texans’ defensive coordinator in 2020.
Weaver was also the defensive line coach for the Texans (2016-19), Browns (2014-15) and Buffalo Bills (2013). He served as the New York Jets assistant defensive line coach in 2012.
Prior to coaching in the professional ranks, Weaver coached linebackers at North Texas in 2011 and was a graduate assistant at Florida in 2010.
