After briefly emerging as a candidate for the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive coordinator job, Ken Dorsey is joining the team as pass game specialist, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The news about Dorsey landing in Dallas was reported on Monday afternoon though the exact role was known until later in the day. Dorsey was reportedly in the mix for offensive coordinator before the Cowboys opted for Klayton Adams.
Ken Dorsey is set to be the #Cowboys pass-game specialist, source says. https://t.co/aS3FbtoqFk
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 10, 2025
Before a one-year stint with the Cleveland Browns as OC last year that resulted in his firing, Dorsey spent 2019-2023 with the Buffalo Bills in various roles yielding mixed results.
Though he was fired from the OC position midseason in 2023, he helped develop Josh Allen as QB coach for the Bills, leading to a promotion to passing game coordinator in 2021 and later to offensive game coordinator.
From 2019 to 2023, the Bills ranked fourth in EPA per dropback and second in success rate, per RBSDM. Of course, having Allen helped but the Bills saw him grow as a quarterback under Dorsey. As OC in Buffalo, he was often criticized for his run game and things never worked out for him at Cleveland with a team struggling at QB.
As pass game specialist in Dallas, it’s unclear what Dorsey will do for the Cowboys. Earlier in the day, Josina Anderson reported he “will be tasked with watching film and being a scheme generalist,” which makes the role sound much more ambiguous.
What is clear is Schottenheimer is continuing his efforts to build a varied staff with influences from various schemes. So far, his hires on offense include two coaches from college football (OL coach Conor Riley from Kansas State and WR coach Junior Adams from Oregon), and Klayton Adams, whose running scheme is night and day in style compared to Dallas’.
Now, Dorsey aims to bring in his lessons from a dangerous Bills passing offense from a few years ago.