The Cleveland Browns started the search for its next head coach two months before the other seven teams did. The new year is where the real work begins.
General Manager John Dorsey has completed his first two interviews to start 2019. There will be plenty more interviews to take place before a final decision is made.
Interim head coach Gregg Williams had the first chance to retain the job. Williams and Dorsey spent the majority of New Year’s Day discussing the job at the team headquarters in Berea.
Williams certainly made his case to keep the position. After replacing the fired Hue Jackson in late October, Williams guided the Browns to a 5-3 record in the final eight games.
“I think the one thing with Gregg is I like what he has done in the last eight weeks. I applaud him for that because he kind of has these guys believing,” Dorsey said at his end the season press conference. “He brought them in together as one. He has them playing hard. That is all you can ask for. Guys seem to play hard for him, and they practice hard. Usually, when you play the game of football, you play like you practice. For eight weeks, these guys have practiced really hard.”
Despite the praise, it’s too soon for Dorsey to make Williams the permanent head coach of the Browns.
“I want to be able to see everything and that is why you want to be able to sit down and talk with him, and see his plan and his vision. You do not want to sell yourself short,” Dorsey said. “Let’s go and why not see other people out there, too, just to see because you want to do your due diligence. We talk about doing our due diligence and what is best for this organization. Why not go and look at everybody?”
The next candidate Dorsey looked at came as a bit of a surprise. Former Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell on Wednesday.
“All lists change all of the time,” Dorsey said. “Like every team changes year in and year out, those lists are going to change year in and year out. What you have to do is you have to stay consistent and up to date and always refreshing and renewing your list as those processes go along. Those lists are always updated on a monthly basis.”
Caldwell did not coach in the NFL in 2018. After a year away it appears Caldwell is ready to get back on the sidelines. He has experience coaching a high profile quarterback. He coached Peyton Manning during his time with the Colts.
Thursday Dorsey will meet with an old friend, former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy. The Super Bowl winning coach was let go in December with four games remaining. 12 seasons in Green Bay coaching high profile quarterbacks in Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers could make McCarthy a top candidate here in Cleveland.
“I have a lot of respect for Mike McCarthy and for what he has done,” Dorsey said.
Friday, Dorsey will meet with New Orleans Saints assistant head coach and tight ends coach Dan Campbell. He served as the Miami Dolphins interim head coach for 12 games in 2015.
Other candidates who could interview with the Browns in the coming days include Kevin Stefanski, Mike Munchak, Brian Flores and Nick Sirianni.
Stefanski is the quarterback coach for the Minnesota Vikings. Stefanski took over as the offensive coordinator after John DeFilippo was fired.
Munchak is the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach. He was 22-26 as head coach of the Tennessee Titans from 2011-13. Munchak played 12 seasons at left guard in the NFL with the Houston Oilers.
Flores is the linebackers coach for the New England Patriots.
Sirianni is the Colts’ offensive coordinator. Sirianni played college football in Northeast Ohio at Mount Union.
Scott Piker is the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Indians Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage.com. So follow him on twitter @ScottPikerSport
