Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) on the sidelines with offensive coordinator Adam Gase late in the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Colts defeated the Broncos 39-33. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Browns are looking to replace head coach Rob Chudzinski after firing him after he had just one year to work with the team, and they are unsurprisingly finding it a bit difficult to sell their organization to head coaching candidates after firing a respected offense-minded coach following just one year on the job. Without a franchise quarterback, feature back, or No. 2 wide receiver but with a solid defense, the Browns are understandably still going after an offense-minded head coach. Their top candidates for the job are offensive coordinators, and one of those reported top candidates is still calling plays for a playoff team.
Being Peyton Manning’s offensive coordinator or QBs coach or Aaron Rodgers’s offensive coordinator or QBs coach has plenty of benefits, and Jim Caldwell, Joe Philbin, Mike McCoy, Ben McAdoo, and Adam Gase can certainly attest to that. Gase’s Denver Broncos will be in action today against the San Diego Chargers and fellow sought-after OC Ken Whisenhunt, who has extensive head coaching experience and is expected to be hired by the Detroit Lions if the Chargers lose.
The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Browns have “all eyes on” Gase, but Rapoport is unsure how long the Browns are willing to wait for teams to be eliminated from playoff contention; I’m sure we all know who the Browns and Lions are rooting for today.
Anyway, Ben McAdoo, who is also a top candidate for the Browns job, is interviewing the New York Giants for their offensive coordinator opening today after his interview was postponed from Friday. He is also reportedly in the mix for the Miami Dolphins OC opening, and the Philbin connection certainly helps.