The last time the Cleveland Browns went on a search for a new head coach, it was a disaster from every angle.
Owner Jimmy Haslam made his first ever coaching hire back in 2013 when he selected Rob Chudzinski, a man nobody else seemed to even have on their radars. One year later, he was fired. Browns fans who’ve seen years of inconsistency were stunned at how quickly Chudzinski was shown the door, and it certainly appeared as though the rest of the NFL felt the same way.
Candidates came and went through the team facility in Berea, Ohio, but there never seemed to be any sense of progress. Word of potential coaching hires getting miffed at the interview process conducted by then-president Joe Banner started getting around the league, and the hunt for Chudzinski’s replacement dragged on for what seemed like forever.
Finally, by late January, Cleveland hired Mike Pettine. A couple weeks later, Banner and GM Mike Lombardi – two of the men who interviewed and hired Pettine – were fired.
So, as the Browns finish up the first week of their latest coaching search, you can see they could hardly do a worse job of finding a new hire as they did the last time around. As it stands, it certainly sounds like the team might be nearing the final stages of its hunt.
Cleveland conducted two more interviews today, talking to Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott and Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson. These two were interviewed after the Browns spent the week talking to Jacksonville Jaguars line coach Doug Marrone, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. Two other candidates – Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase and Dallas Cowboys secondary coach Jerome Henderson – interviewed in Cleveland, but are now both officially heading to the Miami Dolphins.
It was certainly a long and extensive week of talks between the Browns and potential new coaches. And, unlike last time, I wouldn’t be surprised if the team makes its hire in the next few days.
Per Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Browns’ interview with Jackson was the last of any known scheduled talks. Unless there is an interview or two the team has set up under the radar, it sounds like Cleveland has finished going through its initial candidates.
Though it’s always possible the Browns end up opening tomorrow by announcing another scheduled interview, they also no doubt know time is not something they can afford to waste.
As mentioned, Cleveland saw what happened the last time it took more than a couple weeks to finally make a hire. Top candidates were snatched up before the Browns could even give them a call, and what started as a list of upper-tier coaches ended up being narrowed down to a who’s who of men nobody had really heard of. Haslam may have sold Pettine as the perfect guy for the job, but everyone knew he wasn’t exactly the team’s first, second or even third choice.
So, don’t be surprised if Cleveland takes a different route this time, attempting to tab its next coach sooner rather than later.
Another thing working against the Browns, and therefore a reason why they’re likely to try and make a hire soon, is the lack of appeal they carry when stacked against other available positions.
Teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants and Tennessee Titans all have something going for them that Cleveland is missing. Stability, a recent history of winning or a potential franchise quarterback are all things the Browns know nothing of, but are also things available candidates can find elsewhere.
The longer Cleveland waits to make its decision, the higher the likelihood top remaining coaches realize greener pastures can be found elsewhere.
These are all reasons why I think odds favor the Browns being done scheduling first interviews. I would expect them to regroup internally either tonight or tomorrow, find a consensus pick and extend an offer. The team has a lot of work to do when it comes to putting together its brand new analytics strategy, and it can hardly afford to wait too long to pick the coach who’ll end up implementing it.
Word is the interview with Jackson went well for both sides involved, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Cleveland followed up with Patricia as well. Either way, regardless of who the Browns end up picking, I would anticipate the selection coming sometime this week.
