The Cleveland Browns are officially in the market for a new head coach after parting ways with Kevin Stefanski following a six-year run. The search is underway, and while interviews have been conducted and names have been floated, the process has hit some unexpected snags.
A few candidates who were scheduled for second interviews-like former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter-ultimately backed out, taking jobs elsewhere. McDaniel, for example, accepted an offensive coordinator role and is also reportedly set to interview for the Bills’ top job.
So, what’s going on in Cleveland? The front office is doing the work-interviews have been happening-but the perception around the league is starting to raise eyebrows. Is the Browns’ head coaching position becoming one of those jobs that looks good on paper but scares off top talent in practice?
Enter Mike Martz.
Yes, that Mike Martz-the offensive mastermind behind the “Greatest Show on Turf” and former head coach of the St. Louis Rams.
Martz hasn’t been on an NFL sideline in years, and his last head coaching stint came in 2019 with the short-lived San Diego Fleet of the AAF. He’s 74 now, and Cleveland hasn’t reached out to him, but that hasn’t stopped him from making it known: he wants the job.
In a recent appearance on Cleveland sports radio, Martz made it clear he’d jump at the opportunity to lead the Browns.
“I would take the Cleveland job in a heartbeat,” Martz said. “The challenge is to come in there, and they’re hungry to win, which I think is awesome.
You need to change the culture. Kevin started that.
And I think I could solve that QB problem.”
That last part is what really stands out. Martz believes he can fix the quarterback situation in Cleveland-a bold claim, but not one without merit given his history.
He’s been in this position before. Back in St.
Louis, he took a team that had just lost its starting quarterback, Trent Green, and helped mold Kurt Warner into a Hall of Famer. Warner went from stocking shelves at a grocery store and slinging passes in the Arena League to leading one of the most electric offenses the NFL has ever seen.
Martz knows what it looks like to develop a quarterback from the ground up. He’s not afraid of uncertainty under center. In fact, he seems to welcome it.
“You just need to pick the right guy,” he said. “Maybe they have him.
Maybe Sanders is the guy, I don’t know. You have to see him closer.
I could resolve that issue on offense, in my mind.”
That’s not just confidence-it’s experience talking.
Now, let’s address the obvious: age. Martz is 74.
That puts him in the same age bracket as some of the oldest coaches in league history. But it’s not uncharted territory.
Pete Carroll coached the Raiders last season at 73. Bill Belichick, now with North Carolina, is also 74.
Andy Reid is still going strong at 67. And legends like George Halas, Paul Brown, and Marv Levy all coached well into their 70s.
So, no-age alone doesn’t disqualify Martz. The question is whether his offensive philosophy still fits in today’s NFL.
Back in the early 2000s, Martz’s Rams were ahead of their time. They consistently ranked among the league’s top scoring offenses, blending precision passing with explosive playmaking.
That offense was built to stretch defenses vertically and horizontally-something we see in modern schemes today. The league has evolved, but many of the principles Martz championed are still relevant.
The Browns, meanwhile, are stuck in a familiar cycle. They’ve been through coaching changes, quarterback controversies, and flashes of promise that never quite materialize.
What Martz is offering isn’t just a résumé-he’s offering a vision. One that includes a cultural reset, offensive identity, and a belief that Cleveland has the pieces to win now.
“And I just think if you get that team to win and into the playoffs,” Martz said, “that town would just go crazy.”
He’s not wrong. Cleveland is starved for consistent success.
The fanbase is loyal, passionate, and more than ready to rally behind a team that can deliver in January. Martz sees that.
He’s not just looking at the job-he’s looking at the opportunity.
Right now, the Browns haven’t picked up the phone. But Martz has made his pitch.
Whether or not Cleveland bites, one thing is clear: he still believes he has something to offer. And in a league where experience, vision, and quarterback development are at a premium, that belief might be worth a second look.