If the Cleveland Browns fire Kevin Stefanski, a look at who should and should not be involved in the head coaching search
With one game remaining in the season, it’s clear that current Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski seat is not only hot but both sides seem ready for a change.. Nothing is official, but based on what we know and what is being reported, Stefanski is likely going to be coaching elsewhere in the NFL. The last time the Browns underwent a coaching search, Baker Mayfield was still in Cleveland, and general manager Andrew Berry wasn’t.
The Browns will have a list of candidates; if they are doing things right, they already have that list to choose from. Let’s divide the candidates into tiers.
Tier 3: Please, No
Under no circumstances should the Browns even entertain interviewing these candidates.
- Jon Gruden
- Bill Belichick
As for Gruden, the last time he was coaching was with the Las Vegas Raiders. The team never finished above .500; he eventually resigned due to inappropriate conduct he wrote in multiple emails. The last time Gruden finished above .500, the original iPhone was in style, and multiple popular apps hadn’t even been created. As far as Belichick goes, he’s past his prime as a coach, and when Hall of Famer Tom Brady retired, Belichick struggled in finding a new quarterback as well as being a part of questionable roster/personnel decisions. He will receive a gold jacket in Canton, but his style is outdated, and he’s not someone Cleveland needs.
Tier 2: Coaching retreads with no upside
Coaches who have been head coaches before, but whose ceilings are already defined.
- Mike McCarthy
- Washington Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury
- Current Browns Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz
- Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy
- Brian Daboll
Only two coaches will be highlighted here. If you can compare Mike McCarthy to a current basketball coach in the NBA it would be Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers. One championship that both coaches have won is saving a mediocre resume. After winning a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers in 2010, the Packers alternated between divisional round, wild card or conference title flame outs. McCarthy was able to win 12+ games with the Dallas Cowboys, but the furthest the team went was to the Divisional Round. For some reason the Cowboys underachieved in certain years despite having talented rosters with McCarthy under the helm. It’s also worth mentioning that the Cowboys have had multiple playoff losses in which the team came out unprepared and was embarrassed. That falls on coaching.
Current Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury couldn’t figure it out with the Arizona Cardinals and no one should expect him to figure it out again if he were to be hired. Kingsbury is dubbed as an “offensive guru,” but it’s more so the quarterbacks he’s had that have done the heavy lifting. His offenses aren’t dynamic; they’re more bland than people want to admit. It’s also not a coincidence that his offenses are often figured out in the second half of the season and the production dips.
Tier 2: Tread carefully with questions
In terms of these candidates, they might seem like a perfect fit, but they all have questions/flaws that are swept under the rug.
- Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak
- Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady
- Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Joe Anarumo
- Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur
- Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman
When it comes to Kubiak, he has more questions than answers. Yes, the Seahawks have a potent offense that is top 10 in most offensive categories (in terms of stats and advanced stats), but the offense over the past couple of weeks has been inconsistent at best. His sequencing of plays can be confusing as well, and his playcalling can be inconsistent. In terms of personnel usage, it can be puzzling. Kubiak runs the same scheme that is being run in Cleveland in Seattle, but with wrinkles attached to it.
Tier 1: Good fit that could benefit in the long run
This tier of candidates are qualified enough that with the right people and personnel around them, they could succeed.
- San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh
- Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter
- Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula
- Houston Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke
- Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley
- Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udiniski
- Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks coach Josh McCown
49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh got a raw deal with the New York Jets when he was hired by the team in 2021. Saleh returned to the place he started in the Bay Area to rehab his image, and so far it has worked. If Cleveland chose to hire Saleh, it would be an interesting hire, but the question about the defensive scheme and how it will work with the personnel can’t be ignored. Another candidate to watch is the current quarterbacks coach for the Minnesota Vikings, former Browns quarterback Josh McCown. McCown could be a sleeper candidate and develop into a CEO role if hired. McCown has been interviewed for head coaching jobs before, so it would not shock many if he gets interviews this season.
Category: General Sports
