CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns continue to search for their next head coach. They have already interviewed three candidates, with more to visit Berea in the coming days.
One intriguing name has popped up on Thursday as a possible candidate.
According to Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository, New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is "enthusiastically interested" in the Browns head coaching job. The Browns have used back channels to indicate a mutual preliminary interest, although no formal interview has been scheduled as of yet.
If the Browns are to talk with McDaniels, they will need to do so in the next few days while the Patriots are on their playoff bye week, or risk waiting until whenever New England's postseason run ends.
Doerschuk notes that McDaniels had a substantial visit with Browns QB Baker Mayfield in advance of the 2018 draft and the two apparently hit it off.
McDaniels has spent 15 years as an assistant with the Patriots under Bill Belichick, 10 of those seasons as the team's offensive coordinator. In 2009, he interviewed with then-Browns owner Randy Lerner to replace Romeo Crennel as head coach, but lost out to Eric Mangini. He was hired by the Broncos soon after and spent two seasons as Denver's head coach before being fired in 2010 after going 11-17.
In February, it appeared that McDaniels would be the next coach of the Indianapolis Colts. After agreeing to terms with the team, he abruptly decided to return to New England. The 42-year-old McDaniels is scheduled to interview with the Green Bay Packers for their head coaching position on Friday.
McDaniels has many ties to Northeast Ohio. He was born in Barberton, played quarterback at Canton McKinley High School for his father, Thom, before moving on to play college football at John Carroll University. His wife Laura is from Parma.
