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IN SEARCH OF . . .
Well, it didn’t take long for the Cleveland Browns to decide the fate of now former Head Coach Freddie Kitchens. It only took a little longer for now former GM John Dorsey to also be shown the door – even though the “official” word is that the separation was mutually agreed upon. Now the organization’s full focus in on first finding “the right Head Coach” to lead this franchise into the 2020’s, and then find a suitable GM.
Before we go down the list of candidates, let’s take a moment and see which teams have already filled their head coaching vacancies:
WASHINGTON REDSKINS: Ron Rivera has become the latest head coach to wear the burgundy and yellow in our Nation’s Capital, after amassing a 70-53-1 record in just under 9 seasons in Carolina. To the best of my knowledge, the Cleveland Browns did not interview Rivera.
DALLAS COWBOYS: Hired former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy to replace Jason Garrett. Over 204 games, McCarthy’s coaching record is 125-77-2 from 2006-2018; including a win in Super Bowl XLV against the Pittsburgh Steelers. McCarthy is the most decorated of the recent head coaching hires and was interviewed by the Cleveland Browns. Many had him as the Brown’s top candidate – at least according to the court of public opinion.
CAROLINA PANTHERS: In a bit of a surprise, Matt Ruhle was named their head coach. I say this, not because I believe him to lack qualifications, but because I thought that surely he would become the next head coach of the New York Football Giants. Ruhle’s most recent head coaching experience was at Baylor University, where he turned that program from a laughing stock to a respectable member of the Big 12 Conference. Matt Ruhle was not interviewed for the Cleveland Browns head coaching position.
New York Giants: This was the most recent head coaching hire when they agreed to terms with former New England Patriots Special Teams Coordinator and Receivers coach, Joe Judge. Other stops along the way include Mississippi State as a graduate assistant in 2005, Birmingham Southern as a linebackers coach and the University of Alabama (Whoa Nelly!) before coming to New England as a special teams assistant since 2012; then was promoted to special Teams Coordinator in 2017. He was not interviewed by the Cleveland Browns.
So that leaves only one vacancy of the original five NFL teams, and the Cleveland Browns are the last team standing. So let’s now take a look at all the coaches that have interviewed for the Cleveland job, as well as those scheduled to interview this week . . .
Mike McCarthy: As earlier stated, he is now the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys; so he’s off the board. He interviewed with the Browns on Thursday January 2nd.
Greg Roman: Currently the Offensive Coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens, Roman has been in the league in some capacity or another since 1995; when he was the Carolina’s Defensive Quality Control Coach. His most notable stops have been in San Francisco (2011-2014) as their OC and Buffalo in 2015 and 2016, just prior to joining the Ravens. Roman has been credited for the development of starting 2nd year QB and MVP candidate Lamar Jackson. His interview was also conducted on Thursday January 2nd.
Eric Bieniemy: For the past two seasons as the Offensive Coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs, he’s been with the organization since 2013. It remains to be seen whether Bieniemy is considered a serious head coaching candidate or merely the obligatory Rooney Rule interview slot. His interview was conducted on Friday January 3rd.
Robert Saleh: Began his NFL coaching career in 2005 as a 26 year old defensive intern for the Houston Texans and remained there through 2010, where he was promoted to defensive quality control, then to assistant linebackers coach during his last two seasons. He then moved on to Seattle for three seasons, then Jacksonville for another three. He’s been in his current position as San Francisco 49ers Defensive Coordinator since 2017 and is considered a serious candidate, as he’s very much a disciplinarian and demands respect when he walks into the room. Saleh’s interview was on Saturday January 4th.
Brian Daboll: Currently the Offensive Coordinator for the Buffalo Bills, Daboll has also served in the same capacity in Cleveland (under Eric Mangini), Kansas City, Miami and New England. His interview with the Browns was Monday on January 6th.
Kevin Stefanski: The only interviewee to have gone through this process with the Browns last year, Stefanski was their second choice then. Does he get the nod this time around? Time will tell. Stefanski’s post player era began at his alma mater, Pennsylvania as the Assistant Director of Football Operations in 2005. 2006-2008 saw him under Brad Childress in the Eagles organization as part of the operations department. In 2009 he went to Minnesota and worked with quarterbacks, tight ends and running backs before being promoted to Offensive Coordinator in 2019. His interview with the Browns will likely be this Thursday, January 9th, in Minnesota.
Jim Schwartz: The Browns have requested permission to speak with the current Eagles Defensive Coordinator. His NFL journey began with (oddly enough) the original Browns in 1993 as a scout, where he remained through the 1995 season. He then went to Baltimore and became the outside linebackers coach for two seasons. He then moved to Tennessee, where he remained through the 2008 season – the last eight as Defensive Coordinator. Schwartz then became head coach of the Detroit Lions in 2009 and led them to a 29-51 record through 2013. He was then in Buffalo for a year as their DC, then moved on to Philadelphia; where he holds the same position for the Eagles. His interview with the Browns is believed to be sometime this week. If Schwartz is the man, he will have come full circle in his NFL career.
Josh McDaniels: A Canton, Ohio native, he’s a Bill Belichick disciple through and through. His first NFL job was with New England as a 25 year old personnel assistant. His tenure also included defensive assistant, quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator through 2008. He then became head coach of the Denver Broncos in 2009 for two seasons. Moving on to St. Louis in 2010 as the Rams QB coach/ Offensive Coordinator for a season, then coming full circle in 2011 to rejoin the Patriots until today. I think it also important to mention that McDaniels agreed to terms with Indianapolis to become the Colts head coach in 2018, then rejoined the Patriots prior to signing the contract. This move has left a “buyer beware” tag on him. It remains to be seen whether or not McDaniels can shake off that tag to land a second head coaching opportunity. His interview will be on Friday January 10th. It’s also been rumored that, if McDaniels is indeed the Browns new head coach, that current Patriots Director of Player Personnel, Nick Caserio would be the front runner for the vacant GM position because of his work relationship with McDaniels.
So, the question you’re all waiting to have answered . . . “Wunkle, who do you think will get the job?” My guess is that, because they have previous head coaching experience, both McDaniels and Schwartz should be considered the two most likely candidates. However, this is the expansion era Cleveland Browns that we’re talking about – as well as owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam. Somewhere in the back – and possibly even the forefront – of our minds, we’re all asking ourselves “How are they going to screw it up this time?” Much to my surprise, all of these candidates appear to have something of value to offer. Of all the candidates that do not have head coaching experience, I would have to give the nod to Kevin Stefanski, Robert Saleh or Greg Roman. With that said, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the Haslams will screw this up by hiring Eric Bieniemy as the next Cleveland Browns head coach. Who would I like to see the Haslams hire? Call me crazy, but I think that Josh McDaniels, barring some unforeseen occurrence, should be the next head coach of your Cleveland Browns.
Am I going mad, or did the word THINK escape your lips? You were not hired for your brains, you hippopotamic landmass!
Question, why all the love for Stefanski? Interim OC for 3 games. Then Minnesota hires Gary Kubiak as assistant head coach and offense advisor. Stefanski got the OC job. Much like Zampese was the architect behind Mayfields rookie year, Kubiak is said to be the architect of Minnesota offense. I don’t see how a guy with so little experience as an OC is going to command respect.
Personally, of all the people left I’m most intrigued by Saleh.
Freedom!!!
“Personally, of all the people left I’m most intrigued by Saleh.”
I am as well. And maybe he could lure Kubiak over to us for OC. He worked for Kubiak in Houston.
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