Browns head coach search decision: What values Cleveland should prioritize

SB Nation

Here we are again, Cleveland Browns fans, awaiting a major decision by the team while arguing with each other about what a good decision will be. The Browns head coach search has seemingly ended. Now the team’s

brass needs to make a decision based on what they value in the job. Does owner Jimmy Haslam require DC Jim Schwartz to be a part of the team next year, either in his current role or as the head coach? Is the remaining young, up-and-coming offensive coach, Nate Scheelhaase, still interested after his six to seven hours with the team?

As of now, according to multiple reports, the team still has four candidates they are deciding between:

Current DC Jim Schwartz
Former Ravens OC Todd Monken
Commanders run game coordinator Anthony Lynn
Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase

While many will talk about the specific names, Cleveland should be more focused on the things they have prioritized as the highest value in the decision. For this writer, in no specific order, these should be the highest priority in the Browns decision:

Leader – This includes the ability to communicate clearly across a wide variety of learning and motivation styles. A leader commands respect with their presence, effort, consistency, knowledge, and passion. A good leader does not demand respect because of their title/position.
Playoff and Super Bowl aspirations – Good often gets in the way of great. Heck, the Buffalo Bills fired Sean McDermott for that reason. Cleveland should be looking for the coach they believe can exceed the talent level on the field and raise the team to higher heights, not just one whose ceiling is “pretty good.”
Balance of patience and persistence – Any change at the head coach level requires that a coach have a level of patience, as players, especially a young roster, figure out the details. The new coach can’t only be patient, but must also be persistent in focusing on the details until the roster “gets it.”
Offensive-focused (not for sure minded) – This is where the Browns situation is different than just any head coaching position. First, the defense can’t get that much better so the team will continue to lose games if they don’t greatly improve the offense. Even a defensive coach can be offense-focused, thinking about how the offense can control the game. Why? A look at the bad teams in the NFL last year show teams that were bad on offense (a lot more red on the graph below):

In the end, there is no right outcome for this search. We will not know if the next Cleveland head coach is a good one or not for at least a year, likely two or three years. There is a right process, however. That is for the Browns to follow their decided-upon values and priorities, leading them to the best coach.

Cleveland’s values and priorities may be greatly different than the ones listed above. Those are just mine; the Browns should be making their decision based on theirs and not much of anything else.

What values and priorities (not name) would you have if you were in charge of Cleveland’s head coach search?

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