CLEVELAND — While the Cleveland Browns’ search for the franchise’s next general manager rolls on toward a fourth straight week with no resolution in sight, new coach Kevin Stefanski is balancing helping in that process and filling out his inaugural coaching staff.
According to ESPN’s Jake Trotter and Jordan Raanan, Stefanski and the Browns could be taking another step in that endeavor, as they reported former New York Giants offensive coordinator/head coach Ben McAdoo was at Browns headquarters Friday.
“Unclear if he’s interviewing for a spot on Kevin Stefanski’s staff or what spot that would be,” Trotter wrote. “McAdoo was also Giants OC before becoming their head coach.”
According to Nate Ulrich of The Akron Beacon Journal, Stefanski was interviewing McAdoo for a position on the offensive side of the ball.
Currently, the Browns do not yet have an offensive coordinator.
McAdoo is a well-travelled coach with experience at the high school, collegiate and professional levels, most recently as the Giants’ head coach (2016-2017).
In the NFL, McAdoo has worked with the New Orleans Saints (offensive quality control coordinator, 2004), San Francisco 49ers (offensive line coach/quality control coordinator, 2005), Green Bay Packers (tight ends coach, 2006-2011/quarterbacks coach, 2012-2013) and Giants, first as the offensive coordinator (2014-2015), and then, the head coach for two seasons.
With McAdoo serving as the Giants’ offensive coordinator, Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. had his best two professional seasons.
During his rookie season in 2014, Beckham Jr. turned 130 targets into 91 catches for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns with 58 first downs and a long play of 80 yards on the way to Pro Bowl status despite being limited to 12 games.
That set the table for what was anything but a sophomore slump in 2015, as Beckham Jr. set then career highs with 158 targets and 96 receptions. Additionally, Beckham Jr. set personal bests with 1,450 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns over 15 starts.
Despite missing nearly all of the offseason program and battling through a core muscle injury that required surgery earlier this week to repair, Beckham Jr. played in all 16 games during his first season with the Browns and crossed the 1,000-yard mark for the fifth time in his six NFL seasons.
Beckham Jr. gained 1,035 yards and scored four touchdowns on his 74 catches and averaged 14.0 yards per reception.