BERIA, Ohio (AP) -- Cleveland Browns chief of staff Kelly Brownson has been suspended by the team but will not lose her job after being arrested for drunk driving.
Brownson, one of a handful of women's coaches in the NFL, pleaded no contest to a Brunswick court Tuesday for charges stemming from her arrest last month. His license was suspended for a year and he will have to take an intervention course.
On Wednesday, Browns coach Kevin Stefansky, who hired Brownson last year and praised his work, said he has been disciplined by the team. She did not disclose the duration of her suspension, but said she was going to remain employed by Brown.
"Extremely disappointed," Stefansky said after a voluntary exercise. “We take these things very seriously. We are working with the league on proper discipline. Kelly clearly has a lot of regrets and she is going to learn from it and we will support her along the way.”
Brownson was stopped in a 35 mph zone on May 27 at 12:27 for driving 55 mph. According to the police report, an officer detected the smell of alcohol and said that he had made a speech.
Brownson provided a breath sample that showed a blood-alcohol level of .215—more than double Ohio's .08 legal limit. He told officers he had "two or three glasses of wine."
Brown consulted with the league to determine appropriate discipline for Brownson. NFL spokeswoman Brian McCarthy said she would face no further discipline from the league.
Stefanski lauded Brownson's contribution last season as he did a significant amount of planning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"She's very sorry, I've talked to her several times and she'll learn from it and hopefully we'll all be in a better place after this," Stefansky said. "I'm disappointed. He's disappointed and we'll work out all the details again."
Brownson's primary duty with the Browns is working with Stefanski, who began his professional career with the Minnesota Vikings in a similar role. But Brownson's job expanded last season when she became the first woman to serve as an assistant coach during regular season games.
When the Browns visited the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 29, Brownson filled in for tight end coach Drew Petzing, who did not travel with the team after giving birth to his wife's first child.
Brownson, 31, has been working with running back coach Stump Mitchell this season.