The Cleveland Browns are taking their time with their offensive coordinator search - and they don’t seem the least bit concerned about the pace. While other teams have wrapped up their coaching hires, Cleveland is moving deliberately, even as some high-profile names have taken themselves out of the running.
Mike McDaniel, who’s expected to become the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers, reportedly pulled out of the Browns’ search. That’s the same move he made with both the Ravens and the Bills before they made their own hires. In Cleveland’s case, his withdrawal hasn’t triggered any public scramble or pivot - at least not one that’s been reported.
So where does that leave the Browns? As of now, they’ve had just one reported candidate who satisfies the NFL’s Rooney Rule requirement: Nate Scheelhaase.
He, along with Grant Udinski, is said to have had a strong first interview. Sources described both interviews as “excellent,” which has seemingly led the Browns to focus on lining up second interviews with each rather than expanding their candidate pool in reaction to McDaniel’s decision.
That measured approach has drawn some criticism from fans and media, who are questioning the urgency - or lack thereof - in Cleveland’s process. But from the outside looking in, the Browns don’t appear rattled.
They’re not rushing to bring in new names or make a splashy hire. Instead, they seem committed to a methodical evaluation of the candidates they’ve already spoken with.
Now, there’s also the possibility that Cleveland has already interviewed another candidate - one who hasn’t been publicly disclosed. That could be a college coach, someone who might prefer to keep things quiet due to the complications of recruiting and NIL dynamics. In those cases, there’s no requirement for the Browns to announce the interview, which means the search could be further along than it appears.
Jonathan Jones noted that a college coach remains a legitimate option for the Browns, and also emphasized that Scheelhaase continues to be a strong contender for the job.
Bottom line: Cleveland’s playing this one close to the vest. Whether that leads to a surprise hire or a more conventional choice like Scheelhaase or Udinski, the Browns are clearly prioritizing fit and process over speed. And given how important this hire is for the development of their offense, that might not be such a bad thing.