BEREA — Browns right tackle Jack Conklin isn’t afraid to say that new offensive line coach Mike Bloomgren has been a breath of fresh air for the position group. However, it’s not necessarily for the reason why one might think that’s the case.
“Everybody knows he is a decorated coach,” Conklin told the Beacon Journal on June 11. “It’s also kind of cool to have a guy who’s a head coach come in. You kind of get that perspective on top of the O-line stuff, but also his viewpoint of every position. Being an older guy now, I know usually what I have to do almost every time, so now I’m able to open my brain up a little more to more stuff going on.”
Bloomgren, 48, spent the previous seven-plus years as the head coach at Rice University. He was let go from that position in October 2024, despite being one of only three coaches to lead the Owls to a bowl game since 1961, and one of only two to lead them to multiple bowls in that span.
Although Conklin appreciated the head-coaching experience, it was the ability to get back to his position-coach roots that appealed to Bloomgren. That’s especially true in the era of college sports with the transfer portal and name, image and likeness.
“As a head coach, of course, you have a lot of balls in the air,” Bloomgren said during minicamp June 12. “I think the big thing I’d tell you is I am so fortunate and so happy to be back in the National Football League and to be part of this organization. It’s an outstanding organization to be part of, and I get to worry about football all the time. I get to worry about the offensive line all the time instead of kissing babies and raising money and some of the things you do as a head coach in college football in this day and age.”
Bloomgren’s history in the NFL before the Browns extends to four seasons from 2007-10 with the New York Jets. It was during his time there that he crossed paths with Bill Callahan, the highly regarded offensive line coach who was with the Browns from 2020-23 before going to the Tennessee Titans in 2024.
That was the connection that help earn Bloomgren the stamp of approval inside the Browns offensive line room. However, the long-time college coach still had to hit the recruiting trail one more time even after leaving those ranks.
Two-time All-Pro Joel Bitonio came out of the 2024 season debating his future and whether to play a 12th season or retire after 11. Before he made that decision, he sat down with Bloomgren.
“We had dinner,” Bitonio recalled on June 2. “He just kind of talked about his philosophies and his family, my family, what we expect. He’s like, ‘Oh, you could play for four more years.’ And I was like, ‘All right, we’re talking a little crazy now.'”
Four years? That may be a little much to ask Bitonio to play.
One more year, though? Turns out, Bloomgren’s going to at least get that from the seven-time Pro Bowler.
“Yeah, I’d say it’s one of my best recruiting efforts lately,” Bloomgren joked.
Bloomgren insists it wasn’t just his best recruiting pitch when he talked about four more years. Bitonio will turn 34 on Oct. 11.
The comparison Bloomgren looks to comes from his time with the Jets. His second season in New York coincided with future Hall of Famer Alan Faneca signing with the team after a 10-year run playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Faneca played two seasons with the Jets before his final NFL season was spent with the Arizona Cardinals in 2010. He was 34 at the time.
“Look, I’m the eternal optimist and I’m praying to get every moment I can with Joel Bitonio,” Bloomgren said. “From that first dinner that we had, I just think it’s been such a blessing to be around him. I really comp it to when we brought in Alan Faneca with the Jets in 2008, and whenever Joel talks about something he sees through the face mask, I can’t wait to write it down, right? Because there’s so much wisdom in there, and it really was the same as Faneca. I got books full of his vantage point that I still use today to teach.”
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
