 Dorsey with theBuffalo Bills in 2021 | |||||||||||||||
| Dallas Cowboys | |||||||||||||||
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| Title | Passing game specialist | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | (1981-04-22)April 22, 1981 (age 44) Orinda, California, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight | 215 lb (98 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school | Miramonte(Orinda, California) | ||||||||||||||
| College | Miami (FL) (1999–2002) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2003: 7th round, 241st overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| Position | Quarterback, No. 7, 11 | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
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Coaching | |||||||||||||||
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Operations | |||||||||||||||
Administration | |||||||||||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||
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| Coaching profile at Pro Football Reference | |||||||||||||||
Kenneth Simon Dorsey (born April 22, 1981) is an American professionalfootballcoach and formerquarterback who is the passing game specialist for theDallas Cowboys of theNational Football League (NFL). Dorsey was most recently theoffensive coordinator for theCleveland Browns. He playedcollege football for theMiami Hurricanes, where he won the national championship and theMaxwell Award in 2001. He was selected by theSan Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the2003 NFL draft, later playing for theCleveland Browns and theToronto Argonauts of theCanadian Football League (CFL), before retiring in 2010.[1]
Dorsey became a coach in 2013, serving as the quarterbacks coach for theCarolina Panthers, after serving as a pro scout for the team from 2011 to 2012. He later became a coach with theBuffalo Bills, serving as their quarterbacks coach and eventually offensive coordinator. In 2024, Dorsey was hired as offensive coordinator for theCleveland Browns. On February 10, 2025, theDallas Cowboys hired Dorsey as passing game specialist.
Dorsey attendedMiramonte High School inOrinda, California, and was aletterman infootball andbasketball. In football, he was a USA Today Honorable Mention All-USA selection. In basketball, he was a two-year letterman and as a senior, averaged 10.0 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 steals per game.
Although not highly touted when he came out of high school, Dorsey would eventually become the winningest quarterback in University of Miami history. He posted a record of 38–2 as the team's starting quarterback, including a 34-game winning streak. Dorsey also effectively rewrote the school record book, setting career records for total offense (9,486 yards), passing yards (9,565), passing touchdowns (86), pass completions (668), pass attempts (1,153), victories as a starting quarterback (38), winning percentage by a starting quarterback (.974), 200-yard passing performances (31), consecutive passes without an interception (193), consecutive games with a touchdown pass (31), and touchdown passes in a game (5). He led the Hurricanes to back to back BCS National Championship game appearances, winning the2002 Rose Bowl, and appearing in the2003 Fiesta Bowl.
In 2001 Dorsey led the Hurricanes to an undefeated 12–0 season and was named the co-MVP of the2002 Rose Bowl (in which Miami defeated theUniversity of Nebraska) to win the 2001 BCS National Championship. His 2001 Miami team has been considered one of the best and most talented college football teams of all time.
Dorsey was named Offensive Player of the Year twice (2001, 2002), and First-team All-Big East three times (2000, 2001, 2002). Dorsey was also a finalist for the Heisman Trophy in both 2001 and 2002 and the winner of the 2001Maxwell Award, which is given to the national collegiate player of the year.
In 2002, Dorsey was once again a finalist for theHeisman Trophy and led the ‘Canes to a second consecutive undefeated regular season and a national championship game berth in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl. However Miami would fall to theOhio State University Buckeyes in double-overtime. In that game Dorsey passed for 296 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Miami finished the season 12–1, ranking second behind the Buckeyes. Dorsey finished the season with 3,369 passing yards, 28touchdowns, and 12interceptions.
Dorsey was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame at its 45th Annual Induction Banquet on Thursday, April 11, 2013, at Jungle Island in Miami.
| Year | Team | GP | Passing | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cmp | Att | Pct | Yards | TDs | Int | Rtg | |||
| 1999 | Miami | 6 | 74 | 120 | 61.7 | 807 | 10 | 2 | 142.3 |
| 2000 | Miami | 11 | 188 | 322 | 58.4 | 2,737 | 25 | 5 | 152.3 |
| 2001 | Miami | 11 | 184 | 318 | 57.9 | 2,652 | 23 | 9 | 146.1 |
| 2002 | Miami | 13 | 222 | 393 | 56.5 | 3,369 | 28 | 12 | 145.9 |
| Totals | 41 | 668 | 1,153 | 57.9 | 9,565 | 86 | 28 | 147.4 | |
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft4+5⁄8 in (1.95 m) | 208 lb (94 kg) | 31+1⁄2 in (0.80 m) | 9+3⁄4 in (0.25 m) | |||||||||
| All values fromNFL Combine[2] | ||||||||||||
Despite a strong college career, Dorsey was selected in the seventh round with the 241st overall pick of the2003 NFL draft by theSan Francisco 49ers, due in part to concerns over Dorsey's arm strength.[3] In his first two seasons in the NFL, he played in nine games (starting in seven), completing 171 of his 316 pass attempts, and throwing for 1,712 yards and eight touchdowns with eleven interceptions.[4] He started the 2005 season as the third quarterback behindTim Rattay and #1 pickAlex Smith, moving into the backup role after the trade of Rattay to theTampa Bay Buccaneers. He went on to start three games for the injured Alex Smith.[5] In a Week 11 game against theSeattle Seahawks, Dorsey led an inspired comeback and was a two-point conversion away from sending the game into overtime.[6]
In May 2006, Dorsey was traded to theCleveland Browns along with a seventh round pick in the2007 NFL draft for veteran quarterbackTrent Dilfer, after having just re-signed with the 49ers.[7] During training camp, Dorsey andDerek Anderson competed for the 2nd string position behind starterCharlie Frye. In the battle which ended in a virtual tie, Dorsey went on to serve as the third-string quarterback behind Anderson for all of the 2006 season. Dorsey was named the starter for the week 17 game against theHouston Texans but the previously injured Charlie Frye replaced him just minutes before the game. The Browns went on to lose to the Texans as Frye threw an interception and no touchdown passes.
The Browns drafted quarterbackBrady Quinn of theUniversity of Notre Dame with the 22nd overall pick in the2007 NFL draft.[8][9] Frye, Anderson, Quinn, and Dorsey competed for position on the Browns' quarterback depth chart throughout the 2007 NFL Pre-season. On September 1, 2007, the Browns released Dorsey. After a disappointing loss to Pittsburgh in Week 1, Frye was traded to Seattle and Dorsey was re-signed by the Browns in a reserve role. Derek Anderson had a break-through season in 2007, further diminishing the chances of Dorsey receiving playing time.
On November 30, 2008, Dorsey was sent into the game against the Indianapolis Colts after Derek Anderson was injured; he threw three passes, two incomplete, the other an interception.[10]
On December 2,Derek Anderson was put on injured reserve ending his season. Dorsey was named the starter for the remainder of the 2008 season. However, Dorsey was injured during the December 21 game that was against the Bengals. Fourth string quarterbackBruce Gradkowski started in place of Dorsey in week 17 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.[11][12]
Dorsey was released by the Browns on February 9, 2009.[13]
On May 26, 2010, Dorsey signed with theToronto Argonauts of theCanadian Football League, where he backed up formerMiami Dolphins quarterbackCleo Lemon.[14] On May 3, 2011, Dorsey announced his retirement from professional football.[15]
For a brief time, Dorsey was the quarterbacks coach for the Lakewood Ranch Mustangs high school football team inLakewood Ranch, Florida.[16] On April 26, 2011, he was named offensive coordinator at nearbyRiverview High School (Sarasota, Florida).[17]
On August 15, 2011, Dorsey was hired by theCarolina Panthers as a pro scout.[18] During the 2011 off season, Dorsey was an IMG employee.[19] On January 23, 2013, Dorsey transitioned to the Panthers' coaching staff and was hired as their quarterbacks coach under head coachRon Rivera.[20] In the 2015 season, Dorsey and the Panthers reachedSuper Bowl 50 on February 7, 2016. The Panthers fell to theDenver Broncos by a score of 24–10.[21] On January 9, 2018, Dorsey, alongside offensive coordinatorMike Shula, was fired by the Panthers, after spending five seasons with the team.[22]
On March 26, 2018, Dorsey was hired to serve as the assistant director of athletics for the sports program atFlorida International University effective April 2018. FormerCarolina PanthersquarterbackCam Newton was quoted as saying "He'll bring a newness and spark to FIU. Not only is he a hard worker, but he has a vibrant killer instinct. He's a known proven winner over the years."[23]
On February 2, 2019, Dorsey was hired by theBuffalo Bills as theirquarterbacks coach underhead coachSean McDermott.[24] Prior to accepting the quarterback coach position with the Bills, Dorsey initially accepted an offensive assistant position withAppalachian State University under new head coachEliah Drinkwitz.[25]
Following the 2020 season, Dorsey reportedly was approached by multipleNFL teams including theSeattle Seahawks and theDetroit Lionsregarding their vacantoffensive coordinator positions. The Bills promoted Dorsey topassing game coordinator andquarterbacks coach in 2021.[26]
On February 1, 2022, Dorsey was promoted to offensive coordinator, replacingBrian Daboll, who left to become the head coach of theNew York Giants.[27]
After Dorsey and the Bills won the first two games of the 2022 season in dominating fashion, he received national attention for an incident following the Bills' last-second loss to the rivalMiami Dolphins in week 3. At the end of the game, Dorsey was caught on-camera reacting emotionally in the coaches' box, slamming his hat, headset, andMicrosoft Surface tablet on the table before the telecast cut away.[28] Dorsey's reaction received a polarized response from fans, players, and analysts.[29] The Bills ultimately finished the 2022 season second in points scored and yardage in Dorsey's first year as offensive coordinator.[30]
On November 14, 2023, Dorsey was fired by the Bills after a 5–5 start to the season, including a slump that saw the Bills lose 4 of 6 games while struggling on offense. He was succeeded by quarterbacks coachJoe Brady.[31]
On February 5, 2024, the Browns hired Dorsey to be the offensive coordinator under head coachKevin Stefanski.[32] After a season where the Browns offense regressed significantly, Dorsey was fired on January 5, 2025.[33]
On February 10, 2025, theDallas Cowboys hired Dorsey to serve as their offensive pass game specialist under new head coachBrian Schottenheimer.[34]
Media related toKen Dorsey at Wikimedia Commons