
Brandon Lynch
Defensive Backs Coach/Pass Game Specialist
Biography
- Former defensive back who helped his teams win the Super Bowl (Indianapolis Colts in 2006) and Grey Cup (Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2007).Â
- Joined the Browns in 2020 as assistant defensive backs coach before moving to cornerbacks coach in 2023 and promoted to defensive backs coach/pass game specialist in 2026.
- In 2025, the Browns finished third in the NFL in pass defense allowing just 167.2 yards per game and fourth in total defense (283.6 yards per game). The Browns set a franchise record for sacks in a season with 53. CB Denzel Ward eclipsed 100 pass deflections and holds the most by a Brown, while being selected to his fifth career Pro Bowl. CB Tyson Campbell joined the Browns via trade prior to Week Six and finished with a career high and tied for third in the NFL with 18 passes defensed, falling one short of the league lead.
- In 2024, the Browns were the only NFL team to not allow a 300-yard passer. Ward led the NFL with a career-high 19 passes defensed en route to his fourth Pro Bowl selection.
- In 2023, the Browns defense led the NFL in several categories including total defense (270.2 yards per game), passing defense (164.7 yards per game), third down percentage (67-of-230 for 29.1 percent) and first downs allowed (253). The team's 270.2 net yards allowed per game were the fewest allowed in the NFL since the 2014 Seahawks (267.1) and the fewest allowed by a Browns team since 1957. The Browns set a franchise record for sacks in a season with 48. Cleveland also led the league by forcing 112 punts, the third-most forced by an NFL team since 1970. Ward became the first player in league history to tally at least 10 pass defensed and two interceptions in each of his first six seasons. He was selected to his third Pro Bowl.
- In 2022, Ward added two defensive scores, both on fumble returns, becoming the first Brown to accomplish this feat in a single season. He tied M.J. Emerson for the team lead in pass deflections with 15. The pair was one-of-two in the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars to have two players record 15-or-more pass deflections that season.
- During his three seasons as Browns assistant defensive backs coach (2020-22), helped the defense lead the league in red zone takeaways in 2020. In 2021, the Browns finished fifth in the NFL in total defense and fifth in the league in pass defense. Ward recorded the longest interception return in the NFL in 2021 (99 yards) and was named to the Pro Bowl. Oversaw the development of 2021 first-round pick CB Greg Newsome II, who was named to the PFWA All-Rookie team, and 2022 third-round pick Emerson, who's 15 passes defensed in 2022 finished third among all NFL rookies.
- Spent three seasons coaching at East Carolina, overseeing the secondary (2017) and the cornerbacks (2018-19).
- Coached the secondary at Northern Iowa for four seasons (2013-16). Helped produce 11 All-Missouri Valley Conference selections and developed three FCS All-America performers, including Chicago Bears fourth-round draft choice Deiondre' Hall.
- Participated in the Bill Walsh NFL diversity coaching fellowship with the Minnesota Vikings in 2013 and was invited to attend the NCAA & NFL Coaching Academy.
- Spent 2004 with the Tennessee Titans after signing as an undrafted free agent. Played two seasons (2005-06) with the Colts before spending three seasons (2007-09) in the CFL with the Roughriders.
- Two-time team captain at Middle Tennessee State, where he graduated with a degree in liberal studies.
- Lynch and his wife, Francesca, have three children, daughters, Jordan and Peyton, and son Brandon II.
Brandon Lynch's Professional Playing Background:
2004Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Tennessee Titans, safety
2005-06Â Â Â Â Â Indianapolis Colts, corner/safety
2007-09Â Â Â Â Â Saskatchewan Roughriders, safety
Brandon Lynch's Coaching Background:
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Wilmington College, NFLPA coaching intern
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â NFLPA Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Game, assistant coach
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sacramento Mountain Lions, UFL coaching intern
2011-13Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Lenoir-Rhyne University, secondary coach
2013Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Minnesota Vikings, Bill Walsh NFL diversity coaching fellowship
2013-14Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â University of Northern Iowa, secondary coach
2015-16Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â University of Northern Iowa, secondary/associate head coach for defense
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â East Carolina University, secondary coach
2018-19Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â East Carolina University, cornerbacks coach
2020-22Â Â Â Â Â Cleveland Browns, assistant defensive backs coach
2023-25Â Â Â Â Â Cleveland Browns, cornerbacks coach
2026-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Cleveland Browns, defensive backs coach/pass game specialist