Freddie Kitchens Bio: Age, Wife Ginger, Browns Coach Career & Net Worth

Freddie Kitchens is an American football coach who served as the 17th head coach in Cleveland Browns history in 2019 after a long career as an NFL and college assistant. A former University of Alabama quarterback, he has coached for teams including the Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants, and he is currently the offensive coordinator at the University of North Carolina under Bill Belichick.

Quick Facts

Related Names: Baker Mayfield, Bill Belichick, Nick Chubb, Carson Palmer, Bill Parcells, Bruce Arians and the Cleveland Browns.

Early Life & Education

Charles Frederick “Freddie” Kitchens Jr. was born on November 29, 1974, in Gadsden, Alabama. He starred at Etowah High School in nearby Attalla, where he was named Alabama’s “Mr. Football” following his senior season.

He went on to play quarterback at the University of Alabama from 1993 to 1997, starting for three seasons. He threw for 4,668 yards and 30 touchdowns and led the Crimson Tide to wins in the 1995 Citrus Bowl and the 1997 Outback Bowl. He also played baseball in his freshman and senior years.

Before coaching, Kitchens briefly sold cars at Magnolia BMW in Tuscaloosa, where he was salesman of the month twice in three months — but he was unhappy, and coaching was his true calling.

Career Journey

College Coaching Roots (1999–2005)

Kitchens began coaching at Glenville State in West Virginia in 1999, then worked as a graduate assistant at LSU under Nick Saban. He spent 2001–2003 at North Texas coaching running backs, helping Patrick Cobbs lead the nation in rushing, before two seasons at Mississippi State.

NFL Assistant (2006–2017)

He entered the NFL in 2006 as tight ends coach for the Dallas Cowboys under Bill Parcells. From 2007 to 2017 he spent 11 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, coaching tight ends, then quarterbacks (working with Carson Palmer), then running backs, and was part of the team’s run to Super Bowl XLIII.

Cleveland Browns Head Coach (2019)

After joining Cleveland in 2018 and being promoted to offensive coordinator midseason — where he was credited with Baker Mayfield’s strong rookie year — Kitchens was named the Browns’ 17th head coach on January 12, 2019. He went 6–10 in his lone season, defeating all three AFC North rivals for the first time since 2002, and was fired after the season finale.

Giants & Return to College (2020–present)

Kitchens coached tight ends for the New York Giants (2020) and was a senior offensive assistant and interim offensive coordinator (2021). He then spent 2022 as a senior analyst at South Carolina and joined North Carolina in 2023 as tight ends coach and run game coordinator. He was UNC’s interim head coach at the 2024 Fenway Bowl and became the team’s offensive coordinator in 2025 under Bill Belichick.

Career Stats

• NFL head-coaching record: 6–10 (Cleveland Browns, 2019)
• NFL seasons: 16 (2006–2021)
• Super Bowl appearance: XLIII (Arizona Cardinals)
• Alabama career: 4,668 passing yards, 30 TDs
• Current role: UNC offensive coordinator

Personal Life

• Marital status: Married to Ginger Kitchens
• Children: Two daughters, Bennett and Camden
• Health: Underwent emergency surgery for an aortic dissection in 2013

Dating History and Affairs

Kitchens keeps his private life out of the headlines and is not known for any public romantic history beyond his marriage to his wife, Ginger. The couple have two daughters, and he regularly credits Ginger as the most important person in his life.

Controversies

Kitchens’ most scrutinised moment was his brief, turbulent tenure as Browns head coach in 2019, when high expectations ended in a 6–10 record and his dismissal. He has otherwise stayed clear of personal scandal.

Awards & Achievements

• Alabama “Mr. Football” (high school)
• Offensive coordinator credited with Baker Mayfield’s rookie success
• Part of a Super Bowl XLIII staff with Arizona
• Head coach of the Cleveland Browns (2019)

Physical Statistics

• Height: Not publicly disclosed
• Weight: Not publicly disclosed
• Hair Colour: Light brown / grey
• Eye Colour: Blue

Quotes

“I want to thank the most important person in my life… my wife Ginger. I would not be here without her.”

— Freddie Kitchens, introductory press conference as Browns head coach (2019)

Favorites

• Favourite Team (as a fan): Alabama Crimson Tide
• Coaching Influences: Bill Parcells and Bruce Arians
• Favourite Role: Offensive coaching

Earnings

Freddie Kitchens’ net worth is estimated at around $6–8 million. His income comes from his NFL coaching salaries and college coaching contracts, built over more than two decades in the profession.

Interesting Facts

• He was a car salesman in Tuscaloosa before coaching.
• He coached under both Bill Parcells and Nick Saban.
• He survived an aortic dissection in 2013.
• He is now on Bill Belichick’s staff at UNC.

Did You Know Already?

• He was Alabama’s Mr. Football in high school.
• He only spent one season as an NFL head coach.
• His 2019 Browns beat all three AFC North rivals.

Social Media Links

Freddie Kitchens does not maintain widely used public social media accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Freddie Kitchens has spent his life in football, from Alabama quarterback to NFL and college coach. Though his Browns head-coaching tenure was brief, his long career as an offensive mind keeps him in the game at the highest level.

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