The last time the Cleveland Browns were searching for a head coach was in 2020. Six years ago, a lifetime for Cleveland coaches. It’s been a while since the Browns were in the head coaching market. As teams begin to fill in their head coaching spots, the Browns are still interviewing candidates, but this time, the candidates are meeting in person rather than virtually.
It’s clear the Browns are focusing on an offense-minded hire, based on what is being reported. With other teams choosing their head
coaches, is Cleveland close to their decision?
It’s clear that the Browns aren’t in a rush to get their new head coach. They have a process, and they are sticking to that process. Finding a head coach isn’t an easy process. It takes time, planning, and discussing whether or not the coach is the right fit for the team. If you ever interviewed for a job, it usually takes a couple of days or a week for the job to get back to you. It’s not the same as interviewing for a professional football team, but the point still stands.
The NFL has changed how teams can interview their head coach candidates. With the Rooney rule (which has flaws), the team will have its minority candidate requirement fulfilled, and once it’s fulfilled, the team can make its decisions. The Browns have completed one of the two required interviews and are going the extra mile to complete the second on Monday.
The team is doing their research and making sure every candidate gets an opportunity to make a case for why they want to coach this team. Based off what we heard, Nate Scheelhaase and Grant Udinski are the front-runners to land the job. Current defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is more likely to stay on as defensive coordinator than become the head coach at this point.
The Browns were always going to take their time and go through their timing, not others. Let the process play out, but Monday or Tuesday could be the end of the long road.
