Bush returns for a second season in Cleveland to build off first year with the Browns

Kelsey Russo

As LBDevin Bushwalked into CrossCountry Mortgage Campus, a wave of familiarity passed over him.

That familiarity played an important factor into his decision tore-sign with the Browns on a one-year dealto play his second season in Cleveland. While the 2024 season did not have the outcome they had hoped for as a team, Bush wanted to build off the rapport established during the season and continue to improve with the same group.

"I loved how well the coaching staff worked together. I loved how our room was together," Bush said. "Definitely felt like a family, we went through our ups and went through our downs, but we always remained together, and we always had open communication about our status and what we had to do to keep moving forward during the season. So, it always felt like a family atmosphere, so I really enjoyed that a lot."

Bush first signed with Cleveland as an unrestricted free agent in 2024 and established a role for himself during the 2024 season. He started 10 of his 16 games last season and totaled 74 tackles and one sack. He has appeared in 81 career games with 61 starts and recorded 396 tackles five sacks, five fumble recoveries, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.

Over the course of the season, Bush saw his role change and grow as he became more comfortable in the defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's defensive system. They also dealt with injuries to the linebacker room, and Bush said he knew he had to step up into a larger role whenJeremiah Owusu-Koramoahsustained a neck injury.

"As the season went on, you get more comfortable playing with guys around you," Bush said. "You're building relationships with guys and coaches, so it just made everything easier for me to adjust, learn, fit in and play well."

Linebackers coach Jason Tarver was one of those coaches Bush established a relationship with. The two spoke on the phone frequently during the 2024 offseason, which helped jumpstart their working relationship before Bush was in Cleveland for the offseason programs.

"Meeting him face-to-face, he's definitely a guy with a lot of energy and a lot of knowledge," Bush said. "He's been in the business for a long so, I just used him as a resource. And as the season went on, he was just a great resource for me just with adapting to the new style of Schwartz's defense and what they expect out of me."

As Bush prepares for the 2025 season and the return of a number of familiar faces to both the defense and the linebacker room he believes they can take another step forward.

When he came to Cleveland in 2024, the Browns defense was coming off a 2023 season in which they led the league in multiple categories including total defense allowed with 270.2 yards per game. They also had the best passing defense in the league allowing 164.7 yards per game and led the NFL in third down percentage, with teams only converting 29.1 percent of third-down attempts.

He wants to see the Browns return to being the No. 1 defense in the league. As linebackers, he knows they play a specific role in achieving that goal.

"I think that's the first thing is getting back to competing and we'll worry about statistics and where we rank after the season. But I think we need to get our identity back faster and quicker, and come out of the gate swinging," Bush said. "Being linebackers, were' in the middle of everything. So, I think it's big for us to build communication with the new guys coming in, young and old, and be able to take it a step further."