Cleveland Browns high on Josh McDaniels
Josh McDaniels looks on against the Miami Dolphins during the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Browns are in the hunt for a new head coach after making the surprising move to fire Rob Chudzinski yesterday, and Ken Whisenhunt, Josh McDaniels, and Bill O’Brien have all been linked to the Browns. It seems like McDaniels is the most likely candidate for the Browns, with the Bill Belichick-disciple link between McDaniels and Browns GM Michael Lombardi making things especially interesting.
According to a source close to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Browns “are pushing” to get an interview done with McDaniels, but Rapoport states that the Browns can’t interview him until the fifth of the month. Nothing concrete has been done to get an interview, but I would be shocked if McDaniels isn’t high on their list and doesn’t receive an interview as soon as possible (you know, on the fifth).
The Browns need to be well-aware that McDaniels’s first stint as a head coach was an unmitigated disaster, as he had a terrible time leading the Denver Broncos. Members of Belichick’s coaching tree have had rough careers in the NFL as head coaches, but McDaniels and O’Brien are making the rounds on the Black Monday rumor mill. O’Brien is the most attractive college coach for NFL teams, and he’s already close to signing a deal with the Houston Texans. McDaniels will continue to get looks from teams, but there’s definitely a strong link between the Browns and one of the top offensive coordinators in the NFL.