The Cleveland Browns are still searching for their next head coach, and so far, the process has been anything but smooth. After parting ways with Kevin Stefanski following a five-year run that produced just two winning seasons, the Browns have found themselves on the wrong end of several rejections in this year’s coaching carousel.
Stefanski, who’s already landed on his feet with the Atlanta Falcons, leaves behind a Browns franchise that’s struggling to attract top-tier coaching talent. Cleveland has cast a wide net, interviewing the likes of Mike McDaniel and current defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz among others, but as it stands, nothing has stuck. And with each passing day, the list of available candidates is getting shorter.
McDaniel, who previously served as head coach of the Miami Dolphins, was a name that generated some buzz in Cleveland. But after interviewing with the Browns, he opted to take his talents to the Los Angeles Chargers instead.
That decision is a tough blow for a team trying to reset its identity. And while there’s chatter that McDaniel could still pivot if the Buffalo Bills come calling, Cleveland appears to be out of the running.
The Browns also reached out to Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula. According to Anthony Lima of Cleveland’s 92.3 The Fan, Shula appreciated the interest but politely declined. That’s another swing and a miss for a team that desperately needs to hit on this hire.
Then there’s Jesse Minter, who recently accepted the head coaching job with the Baltimore Ravens. He, too, turned down the Browns before joining forces with Lamar Jackson and a Ravens squad that’s already built to contend. And if that wasn’t enough, the Browns also had their sights on John Harbaugh, who ultimately chose the New York Giants and the NFC East over Cleveland.
What’s becoming increasingly clear is that the Browns are facing an uphill climb-not just in the AFC North, but in the eyes of coaching candidates across the league. For years, Cleveland has struggled with consistency and direction, and that uncertainty appears to be giving some of the league’s top minds pause.
The team still has options, including the possibility of hiring the youngest head coach in NFL history. But for now, the Browns’ coaching search remains a story of missed connections and shrinking possibilities.