Dirk Koetter a ‘longshot’ to be hired by Cleveland Browns
Dirk Koetter shown on the field during minicamp at the Falcons Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Browns head coaching job is one that has been turned down by a couple of head coaches, and I wonder if the Browns brain trust regrets their decision to fire innovative head coach Rob Chudzinski after just one season on the job. Anyway, the Browns have moved past other innovative offensive coordinators in Josh McDaniels and Adam Gase and have turned their focus- largely out of necessity- to defensive-minded head coaches like Dan Quinn and Mike Pettine. Even though the Browns offense is much worse than the defense, there’s nothing wrong with hiring a defense-minded head coach as long as the Browns have a strong offensive coordinator to help him out.
It looks like the Browns are closing in on Buffalo Bills underrated defensive coordinator Mike Pettine as their head coach, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was hired at some point today by the Browns. Pettine is an incredible defensive coordinator who can be directly credited for turning Jerry Hughes from a bust to one of the league’s better 3-4 outside linebackers in what has been a breakout, double-digit sack season for Hughes in his first season in Buffalo.
But the Browns have looked at one more offense-minded head coaching candidate, as it was reported yesterday that they would interview Atlanta Falcons innovative offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter. ESPN NFL Nation’s Vaughn McClure reports that the Browns have already interviewed Koetter and that the Falcons OC is considered a “longshot” to become the team’s next head coach.
At this point, it sounds like it’s Pettine’s job to lose, but it will be interesting to see if they wait until after the Super Bowl is over in order to interview Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, since there’s plenty of mutual interest there.