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[Cleveland Browns]

Browns head coach search tracker: Updating as top candidate gets crossed off

The Cleveland Browns got their offseason off to a quick start with the firing of HC Kevin Stefanski and the retaining of GM Andrew Berry. Due to some limitations in the NFL rules, things have somewhat slowed down since then, with a few interviews and reports of requested interviews for the team, all while John Harbaugh was the top candidate for every team, besides the Baltimore Ravens, looking for a coach.

Harbaugh has all but signed to take over the New York Giants job, leaving the rest of the carousel ready to spin quickly. We ranked the Giants as the second-best job early in the process, noting that the three most important things for candidates were:

1. Ownership
2. Quarterback
3. Power

New York has long-standing stability in the owner’s suite, believes they have a young franchise QB in Jaxson Dart, and Harbaugh will be able to choose whatever he wants with the Giants, even with GM Joe Schoen in place.

Crossing Harbaugh off of the Browns head coach search list leaves us with the following remaining as either interviewed or requested for an interview:

• Ravens OC Todd Monken – Interviewed. Reportedly going with Harbaugh to be his offensive coordinator
• Bengals OC Dan Pitcher – Interviewed
• Browns OC Tommy Rees – Interviewed and reportedly eliminated from the search
• Browns DC Jim Schwartz – Interviewed
• Seahawks DC Aden Durde – Interviewed
• Former Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel – Interviewed
• Chargers DC Jesse Minter – Scheduled
• Jaguars OC Grant Udinski – Scheduled
• Rams DC Chris Shula – Requested
• Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase – Scheduled

We will continue to update the tracker as we have more information.

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From the above list, who is your preferred candidate and who do you think actually gets the job?

Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below

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Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...5373/browns-head-coach-search-tracker-updated

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Lawsuit presents another potential bump in Browns draft plans

The Cleveland Browns find themselves in a quandary when it comes to the quarterback position and the 2026 NFL Draft.

Late last season, the Browns appeared to be a lock for the No. 1 overall selection, which would have allowed them their choice of quarterbacks. (Hello, Fernando Mendoza!)

But after a late-season “surge” of two wins, thanks to the Myles Garrett-induced panic from the Pittsburgh Steelers and the most legendary six points an offense has scored in the history of the NFL, the Browns dropped to No. 6 overall. (Welcome … Carson Beck? Drew Allar?)

There is a major dropoff in the upcoming quarterback class after Mendoza, but there is one quarterback who could be an intriguing option for the Browns, perhaps not at No. 6, but surely with their second first-round selection at No. 24 overall. Or even in the second round at No. 39 overall.

That quarterback, of course, is Mississippi’s Trinidad Chambliss, who caught college football by surprise in his first season as the starter for the Rebels after spending four seasons at Division II Ferris State.

The only problem is that Chambliss is doing everything he can to remain with the Rebels for another season, including filing a lawsuit on Friday challenging the NCAA’s ruling to deny him another year of college eligibility.

Legend Mode pic.twitter.com/5SumZUqlAo

— Land Shark Nation™ (@LandSharkNation) January 2, 2026

Even though he was at Ferris State for four years, Chambliss only played for the Bulldogs in his last two seasons. And it is the 2022-23 season that appears to be at the heart of Chambliss’ appeal, according to Ralph D. Russo at The Athletic:

The NCAA said Ole Miss had not provided the necessary documentation to show that Chambliss had an injury or illness that prevented him from playing at Ferris State during the 2022-23 football season. Chambliss’ lawyer, Tom Mars, has said a different bylaw should be applied to Chambliss’ case other than the one the NCAA cited when handing down the decision.

The filing called the NCAA’s decision “bad-faith, unreasonable, and arbitrary.” The complaint cites a “cascade of medical illnesses that plagued” Chambliss for about seven years until he had surgery to remove his tonsils in 2024.

While he is suing the NCAA, Chambliss is also gathering information about where he might land in the upcoming draft. His agent has told The Athletic that it appears no team would be willing to use a first-round selection on Chambliss, who threw for 3,937 yards, 22 touchdowns, and two interceptions, given that he has only played one season in Division I.

If that were the case, it would cost Chambliss a considerable amount of money on his rookie contract, according to the lawsuit.

Chambliss is reportedly going to be one of the highest-paid players in college football if he can stay another year. With a nice payday on the table and the chance to improve his draft stock, it makes sense that Chambliss would want to follow Oregon’s Dante Moore and stay in school for another year.

That doesn’t help the Browns, of course, but the odds seem to be in the NCAA’s favor. According to The Athletic, 40 players have challenged the NCAA over eligibility issues since November 2024, and 26 of those have come out on the side of the NCAA.

Cleveland is currently mired in another mess at the quarterback position, which is likely as bad as it has ever been. And while there are no guarantees that the Browns would select Chambliss if he is available, he is a player worth checking out.

And for a team that simply can’t solve the quarterback problem, the more possible answers available to them, the better the chances they may finally figure it out.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...otential-bump-in-cleveland-browns-draft-plans

 

[Cleveland Browns]

San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks – Browns’ fans open thread

Saturday’s Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs caps off at 8:00 PM ET as the San Francisco 49ers take on the Seattle Seahawks. The game will air on FOX, with the action being called by Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady.

After a wild first game between Denver and Buffalo, now we get the NFC-leading Seahawks in a divisional match that that features the great NFC West. The 49ers have done an amazing job being resilient through injuries all season, but Seattle is built too strong and should fire on all cylinders. The only what-if may be with Sam Darnold, who had a letdown last year with Minnesota. But Seattle is my Super Bowl pick, so I’ll go with them. Seahawks 27, 49ers 17.

What do you think, Browns fans? Use this as your open thread to discuss the game.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...s-vs-seattle-seahawks-browns-fans-open-thread

 

[JJ]

LOL oh man where do I even start with this dumpster fire of a situation in Cleveland?

First off, the Browns winning those two garbage time games at the end of the season to drop from #1 to #6 is the most Browns thing I've ever heard. Only Cleveland could accidentally win themselves OUT of a franchise quarterback. Fernando Mendoza would've been a nice consolation prize for decades of misery, but NOPE! Congrats on beating Pittsburgh I guess?

And now you're telling me Trinidad Chambliss - literally the one interesting QB option that might fall to them later in the draft - is suing the NCAA to STAY IN COLLEGE? Can't make this stuff up. The football gods absolutely despise Cleveland.

As a Bills fan, I gotta say - this is why you don't take the QB position for granted. We went through our own wilderness years before Josh Allen came along and changed everything. But at least we committed to a guy and built around him. The Browns have been playing musical chairs at QB for what feels like 30 years now.

That coaching search list is... something. McDaniel got fired from Miami and now he's a candidate? Jim Schwartz is a solid defensive mind but does Cleveland really need another defensive-minded coach when the offense is the problem? And poor Tommy Rees already getting eliminated from his own team's search is just brutal.

Shedeur Sanders in that preseason photo though... that's your answer Cleveland? Good luck with that circus.

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Browns head coaching search: 5th, possibly final, 2nd interview candidate revealed

The weekend started with everyone around the NFL wondering when John Harbaugh would officially take the New York Giants job, a lot of questions in the head coaching carousel, and the Conference Championship participants up in the air. As early Sunday afternoon rolled around, Harbaugh had signed, Kevin Stefanski was headed to the Atlanta Falcons (likely with a few coaches from his Cleveland Browns past), and the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks had punched their tickets to the next round.

For Browns fans, wondering what was next with their team’s head coach search, a lot of unknowns became known through reports. We knew Saturday that Cleveland DC Jim Schwartz was getting a second interview, then Sunday brought us news of four other candidates joining that list. According to Mary Kay Cabot and Daryl Ruiter, Los Angeles Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase is the fifth candidate who will get a second interview:

Both #Jaguars OC Grant Udinski and #Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase are set for HC 2nd interviews with the #Browns. As posted here yesterday, both are generating plenty of buzz with the #Browns. Scheelhaase's date will depend on if the #Rams win today: https://t.co/YwwobUkZe9

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) January 18, 2026

According to Ruiter, just five candidates remain for the position:

Talked today on the show about #Browns cutting head coach search down from 9 to 5 this week. The 5 still alive:
-DC Jim Schwartz
-Jaguars OC Grant Udinski
-Ravens OC Todd Monken
-Mike McDaniel
-Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase

— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) January 18, 2026

McDaniel and Scheelhaase would satisfy the Rooney Rule once both receive an in-person interview. That is required before a team is able to hire its new head coach. As Cabot notes, Scheelhaase’s availability for an in-person interview will depend on the results of the Rams matchup with the Chicago Bears on Sunday night.

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How do you feel about Scheelhaase as a candidate, especially compared to Udinski? Do you think the five names noted above are the only candidates remaining, or will the Browns head coach search add some names?

Share your Scheelhaase and head coach search thoughts in our comment section below

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...oaching-search-nate-scheelhaase-2nd-interview

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Los Angeles Rams vs. Chicago Bears – Browns’ fans open thread

Sunday’s Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs concludes at 6:30 PM ET as the Los Angeles Rams face the Chicago Bears. The game will air on NBC, with the action being called by Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth.

Both of these teams got into a shootout last week, as the Rams scored a touchdown with 0:38 left to beat the Panthers 34-31, and the Bears scored scored 25 points in the fourth quarter, including the go-ahead touchdown with under two minutes to play, to stun the Packers 31-27.

Don’t get me wrong, both teams here are capable of playing some good defense at times. But this game has to come down to a nice shootout, right? I think the Rams are clicking on all cylinders with Matthew Stafford playing like the best quarterback in football. And although Caleb Williams continues to impress the hell out of me, eventually, their story of fourth quarter comebacks has to end, even at home. Rams 27, Bears 24.

What do you think, Browns fans? Use this as your open thread to discuss the game.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...rams-vs-chicago-bears-browns-fans-open-thread

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Browns head coach search: Superlatives, word association for each of the remaining 6 candidates

The Cleveland Browns head coaching search turned toward second interviews this week, before the Buffalo Bills may have added Sean McDermott to the candidate list, with Browns owner Jimmy Haslam now having a chance to right a previous mistake. As of now, six candidates are expected to get second interviews, this time in person, with the Browns:

• Browns DC Jim Schwartz
• Ravens OC Todd Monken
• Jaguars OC Grant Udinski
• Chargers DC Jesse Minter
• Former Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel
• Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase

Scheelhaase’s interview cannot take place until January 26th, which, as of now, is when Cleveland would be in compliance with the Rooney Rule and could hire their new head coach.

Anything can change, as we saw with McDermott, but the Browns next head coach is likely on the above list. Having a little fun, I wanted to give the superlatives/word association that came to mind for each of the current Cleveland head coach search candidates. Mind you, these are my personal beliefs and in no way are predictive of anything. Honestly, almost nothing known publicly is actually predictive of head coaching success, besides a top-flight quarterback.

On to the superlatives/word association:

• Browns DC Jim Schwartz – Stubborn, hard-nosed, acceptable but boring choice
• Ravens OC Todd Monken – Offensive version of Schwartz, risky to give first NFL HC chance to someone who is 59
• Jaguars OC Grant Udinski – Exciting, unproven, biggest upside/downside
• Chargers DC Jesse Minter – Winning experience, at 42, he’s the oldest of the young guys, Jim Harbaugh connection is both exciting and concerning
• Former Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel – Great run game schemes, improved as the year went on, quirky, probably best if he takes a year as OC under a different style head coach first
• Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase – A year or two early to the HC game, Sean McVay’s coaching tree is exciting, would he join as OC under any of the others?

In the end, we really don’t know for sure who will make a good head coach. There are so many variables behind the scenes. McDermott is a great example. Is he a good coach that just can’t get over the top, or was he carried by QB Josh Allen and the other talent they’ve had on the roster? As of now, Cleveland fans would be thrilled with the success of McDermott, but like some in Buffalo, expect more later in his coaching career.

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What words or superlatives jump to mind when you look at the above names?

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...wartz-todd-monken-grant-udinski-mike-mcdaniel

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Browns lose assistant coach to the Chiefs

The Cleveland Browns are staying active in their head coach search, a key platform in their “120-day plan” to improve the franchise.

On Monday, a new candidate may have been added to the list after the news broke that the Buffalo Bills were firing head coach Sean McDermott after nine seasons. Cleveland was once very interested in hiring McDermott, only to see owner Jimmy Haslam veto the football guys so he could instead hire Hue Jackson before anyone else beat him to the punch.

The head coach’s office is not the only one the Browns will need to fill, however, as reports indicate that offensive coordinator Tommy Rees could be heading south to join head coach Kevin Stefanski’s staff with the Atlanta Falcons.

It also appears that the Browns will be in the market for a new wide receivers coach, as NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero is reporting that Chad O’Shea is leaving town to accept the same position with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Chiefs are hiring Chad O’Shea as their wide receivers coach, per source.

O’Shea got into the NFL as a volunteer assistant with Kansas City in 2003. Over two decades later, he’s back as Andy Reid remodels his offensive staff. pic.twitter.com/BW7koHxbi3

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 19, 2026

O’Shea joined the Browns in 2020, and that first season saw the offense post the second-most points (408), second-most touchdowns from scrimmage (48), and second-most first downs (355) in franchise history as the Browns made the playoffs.

The on-field success continued as wide receiver Amari Cooper became the first Cleveland player to have consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons (2022 and 2023), while setting the franchise’s single-game record with 265 receiving yards in a game against the Houston Texans.

In 2024, newly acquired wide receiver Jerry Jeudy set a franchise record with 90 receptions, and his 1,229 receiving yards are the fifth-most by a Cleveland player in a single season.

This past was not as successful, however, as historically poor quarterback play saw the offense go off the rails, which was especially true of the wide receivers.

Jeudy had a major drop off in production as he led the position group with just 50 receptions and 602 yards, while tying Cedric Tillman with two touchdown receptions, the only touchdowns from the wide receivers all season.

Tillman, Gage Larvadain, Jamari Thrash, Malachi Corley, and Isaiah Bond combined for just 67 receptions, 865 yards, and two touchdowns from Tillman.

But, as they say, one man’s garbage is another man’s treasure, so O’Shea is off to join Andy Reid’s successful coaching staff with the Chiefs. It will be homecoming of sorts for O’Shea, as his first NFL job was with the Chiefs, where he spent three seasons (2003 to 2005), working his way up from volunteer special teams assistant to an assistant coach role with special teams and then linebackers.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...ortedly-lose-chad-oshea-to-kansas-city-chiefs

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Browns ‘bold prediction’ is a new QB to go with Shedeur Sanders

The conference championship games are this upcoming weekend and we still don’t know who the Cleveland Browns next head coach will be. With second interviews going forward, six teams still do not have their top guy in place, but at least we have an idea of the Browns interview schedule.

Three of the other five teams that still need coaches will face Cleveland next year. For the Browns, very little else is known about next season. The team has some high draft picks and can create a lot of salary cap space. That is about all we know for sure.

Despite so much still unknown around Cleveland and the league, ESPN has put out some “bold predictions” after talking to executives around the NFL. That includes the possibility of Green Bay Packers QB Malik Willis signing with the Miami Dolphins or Browns:

Willis made some coin with his performance in relief of Jordan Love in Green Bay, showing dual-threat ability that a new offensive mind could mold.

“I just don’t think [the Browns] go into the season with Shedeur [Sanders] as their top option,” an NFC personnel man said. “And getting the right quarterback in the draft isn’t a guarantee based on where they pick.”

Willis was a third-round pick of the Tennessee Titans but struggled in three starts as a rookie and was dealt to the Packers just before the start of the 2024 season. The Titans received just a seventh-round pick in the deal.

Since then, Willis has played in 11 games, including three starts, in Green Bay. The former Auburn and Liberty star completed 79% of his passes for 972 yards with six touchdowns and zero interceptions in those games. He also added 261 yards and three scores rushing during his time with the Packers.

CBS Sports has Willis ranked as the 21st-best free agent this offseason, while The Ringer has him 25th. While quarterback contracts are hard to project, especially with a number of teams needing them, Spotrac projects his value to be over $10 million, while ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky believes the total deal will be much higher:

Malik Willis is gonna get 40-50 million this off season

— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) January 6, 2026

It is likely that Orlovsky used QB Justin Field’s two-year, $40 million contract from last offseason as a reference point.

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How would you feel about Malik Willis being added to the Browns this offseason and what contract amount would you be comfortable with?

Share your Willis related thoughts in the comment section below

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...ster-malik-willis-shedeur-sanders-free-agency

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Former Browns QB throws fuel on rivalry fire with former HC

The Cleveland Browns have experienced little to no success since their return to the NFL in 1999.

But there was one brief period where it appeared the franchise had finally turned the corner.

That was in 2020, when first-year head coach Kevin Stefanski and third-year quarterback Baker Mayfield helped lead the Browns to the playoffs for the first time in 18 years.

Once there, they handed the Pittsburgh Steelers the third playoff loss in what is now a seven-game postseason losing streak, and then pushed the Kansas City Chiefs to the brink before falling in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.

At the time, it seemed as if the Browns had finally cracked the code with a young head coach and a brash quarterback joining together to take on the NFL.

This is Cleveland, of course, where everything ends badly when it involves the Browns, so the joy did not last long.

In 2021, an injured shoulder left Mayfield ineffective, and the Browns lost four of their last six games to miss the playoffs. That offseason, ownership made the ill-fated decision to trade for quarterback Deshaun Watson, shipped Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers for peanuts (a conditional fifth-round selection), and things were never the same.

Mayfield bounced from the Panthers to the Los Angeles Rams before landing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023, where he has thrown for 12,237 yards and 95 touchdowns in three seasons, while leading the Buccaneers to the playoffs twice.

Meanwhile, in Cleveland, the Browns cycled through quarterbacks as Watson was suspended in 2022, and then injured in 2023 and 2024, limiting him to just 19 games.

A surprise playoff appearance in 2023 helped to ease some of the hurt, but a combined record of 8-26 the past two seasons finally brought an end to Stefanski’s tenure in Cleveland. (When you can’t fire the owner, someone has to take the fall.)

As fate would have it, Stefanski was recently hired by the Atlanta Falcons, who share the NFC South Division with the Buccaneers and Mayfield, setting up an annual home-and-home meeting between the head coach and his former quarterback.

#Falcons’ Kevin Stefanski had a dumpster fire at quarterback in Cleveland — Baker Mayfield and Deshaun Watson failed, which started a chain reaction to 11 other starters. QB Shedeur Sanders closed out last season with seven starts. https://t.co/nnuXs2ZCbd

— D. Orlando Ledbetter (@DOrlandoAJC) January 20, 2026

That is an angle that D. Orland Ledbetter at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution explored on Tuesday in a (paywalled) column that described Stefanski’s time in Cleveland as a “dumpster fire” at the quarterback position.

Failed is quite the reach pal. Still waiting on a text/call from him after I got shipped off like a piece of garbage. Can’t wait to see you twice a year, Coach. https://t.co/jUUsYkvlOC

— Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield) January 20, 2026

Mayfield, as he has been wont to do during his career, decided to throw some additional fuel on the fire by calling out both Ledbetter and the way his former coach handled the end of their time together in Cleveland:

Failed is quite the reach pal. Still waiting on a text/call from him after I got shipped off like a piece of garbage. Can’t wait to see you twice a year, Coach.

The NFC South has always been a strange division, where rivalries, like the one between the Falcons and New Orleans Saints, are rarely noticed on a national level. But with Mayfield and Stefanski now in the same division, the Falcons and Buccaneers games this fall are going to be must-see TV.

And in a fun scheduling twist, the Browns play both the Falcons and Buccaneers next season, with Atlanta and Stefanski coming to Cleveland, but, sadly, the Browns are facing the Buccaneers in Tampa.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...-rivalry-with-atlanta-falcons-kevin-stefanski

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Browns great Joe Thomas pushes back on Baker Mayfield’s recent comments

The Cleveland Browns are often described as a soap opera. The problem with that analogy is that soap operas tend to have a lot more highs and climaxes than the Browns have had over the years. A tragedy wrapped in a comedy is sadly a better comparison.

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Yesterday, a report came out that Mike McDaniel had pulled himself out of the Cleveland head coach search. In fact, as more news came out, McDaniel had also pulled himself out of the Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders head coach searches and all other offensive coordinator options as well. Yet, the Browns have earned the privilege of being the recipient of the jokes.

The drama continued with former Cleveland QB Baker Mayfield throwing a shot at former Browns HC Kevin Stefanski.

The reaction around Mayfield’s comment was mostly mixed:

The Browns’ assessment of Baker was spot on. Their solution was catastrophic. But the original assessment (wildly immature, good but not great) was exactly right.

— Jason Lloyd (@ByJasonLloyd) January 21, 2026

Baker Mayfield has a right to be angry at Kevin Stefanski pic.twitter.com/9px49yI2aW

— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) January 21, 2026

imagine if we all cried on social media about that one time FOUR YEARS AGO when our ex-boss didn't text us to wish us well after we PUBLICLY ASKED TO LEAVE THE COMPANY

— b cunningham (@BurdsIVue) January 21, 2026

Wednesday morning, a Cleveland legend and Hall of Famer, Joe Thomas, weighed in:

I could be wrong…but I've heard that communication is a 2-way street and there were no laws against you (Baker) sending Stefanski a text or calling him after you got traded https://t.co/y7hI6zptax

— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) January 21, 2026

Everyone is going to have an opinion, but a former player as respected as Thomas has earned the ear of Browns fans.

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What do you think of Thomas’ statement? Does it impact how you feel about what Mayfield said?

Share your thoughts in the comment section below

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...wns-joe-thomas-baker-mayfield-kevin-stefanski

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Should Cleveland include Sean McDermott in their coaching search? Browns Reacts Survey

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Browns fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

While several teams have found their next head coach already, the Cleveland Browns are still diligently going through the process. Even though they may be knee deep in second interviews, and have to find at least one new candidate who satisfies the Rooney Rule requirement after Mike McDaniel dropped out, should they consider adding a new veteran name to the mix?

A few days ago, the Bills announced the firing of Sean McDermott, who had success with Josh Allen for years. Their one fault was hitting a road block in the playoffs. But with someone who had the success he did, and considering the Browns appeared to have an interest in him years ago, should they include him in their 2026 coaching search?

Let us know in the survey below, and then we’ll reflect and see if any news breaks in the coming days about the Browns being interested in him.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...in-their-coaching-search-browns-reacts-survey

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Browns HC search: Another candidate says, ‘no thank you’

The Cleveland Browns search for their next head coach hit another bump in the road on Thursday.

That is because Jesse Minter, who has spent the past two seasons as defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers, will not be attending his scheduled second interview today with the Browns.

According to Mary Kay Cabot at cleveland.com, Minter reportedly believes there are better opportunities available as he has drawn interest from the Arizona Cardinals, Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Baltimore Ravens.

Breaking: #Chargers DC Jesse Minter is not interviewing for the #Browns HC job today as scheduled, likely because he feels like he has other HC opportunities that are more certain, sources tell clevelanddotcom.

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) January 22, 2026

Minter was one of five candidates the Browns had planned to host for a second interview, joining current defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz (completed), Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken (completed), Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski (scheduled for Friday), and Los Angeles Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase (hopefully next week).

This is the second time this week that a candidate has said that Cleveland was not a preferred destination.

On Tuesday, Mike McDaniel informed the team that he was withdrawing his name from consideration and subsequently accepted the offensive coordinator position with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Losing out on McDaniel is likely not the end of the world, but it does put the Browns in the position of needing to interview another minority candidate to comply with the NFL’s Rooney Rule. If the second interview with Scheelhaase goes off as planned, that would be one minority candidate, but general manager Andrew Berry would still need to interview another minority candidate.

Cleveland is not the only team looking for a head coach, of course, so they have competition for all four of their current candidates:

• Schwartz – Has interviewed for the Baltimore Ravens head coach position
• Monken – Expected to be the New York Giants offensive coordinator if he doesn’t get the Browns head job
• Udinski – The Buffalo Bills have requested to interview Udinski for their head coach opening
• Scheelhaase – Has interviewed with the Ravens, Raiders, and Steelers

The week opened with the Browns having a solid interview schedule in place, but McDaniel and Minter threw those plans out the window.

Hopefully, Berry is using his newly cleared calendar to figure out how to wrap up this head coach search in a favorable way.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...ate-jesse-minter-will-not-interview-with-team

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Browns roster: Two defenders reach finalist status for prestigious NFL awards

It was just announced that Browns DE Myles Garrett and LB Carson Schwesinger are finalists for the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award and Rookie Defensive Player of the Year award, respectively.

Garrett broke the NFL record for number of sacks in a season in 2025 with 23, surpassing a 24 year-old record set by Michael Strahan. It’s no secret that Garrett was the most dominant defender in the league this year, and he’s the betting favorite to win the award for the second time in his career.

He also holds multiple Cleveland Browns sack records such as having the most career sacks and most sacks in a single season.

One of the most overlooked NFL records that he currently has and continues to elongate is that he’s the first player in league history to have 10+ sacks in eight straight seasons, and 14+ sacks in five straight.

The finalists for AP Defensive Player of the Year presented by @TCL_USA! #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/uCYIuxpnmU

— NFL (@NFL) January 22, 2026

Schwesinger, one of Cleveland’s 2025 second-round picks, had an incredibly productive season in Jim Schwartz’s defense. He finished the year with 156 total tackles, 11 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 3 pass deflections, and 9 QB hits.

Despite being so young, he was the heart and soul of the Browns’ defense in 2025 alongside Myles Garrett. His processing speed and play recognition allows him to consistently be in advantageous positions against both the run and pass.

It goes without saying that Schwesinger has an extremely bright future in Northeast Ohio, and starting it off with winning the RDPOY Award would be ideal.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/gener...eason-awards-myles-garrett-carson-schwesinger

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Former Browns WR Frank Pitts Jr. passes away

Frank Pitts Jr., who spent three seasons with the Cleveland Browns, passed away on January 16 at the age of 82.

A fourth-round selection by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1965 AFL Draft, Pitts spent six seasons with the Chiefs, winning two AFL Championships, and played in Super Bowl I (a loss to the Green Bay Packers) as well as Super Bowl IV, where the Chiefs beat the Minnesota Vikings in the final game of the AFL.

Pitts had three receptions for 33 yards and three runs for 37 yards, with two of his plays leading to scores. A 20-yard reception in the first quarter helped to set up a 48-yard field goal from Jan Stenerud, and then a 19-yard run in the second quarter led to another Stenerud field goal as the Chiefs went on for a 23-7 win.

The Browns acquired Pitts prior to the start of the 1971 season for a pair of draft picks. In 31 games with the Browns, Pitts had 94 receptions for 1,424 yards and 16 touchdowns, outpacing the production he had with the Chiefs (78 receptions, 1,450 yards, and 11 touchdowns).

Two games stand out from Pitts’ time with the Browns, the first coming in 1971 when he returned to Kansas City Municipal Stadium to face the Chiefs and had five receptions for 129 yards against the team he played with for the first six years of his career.

The second came the following season when Pitts pulled in a 38-yard touchdown pass from Phipps with 41 seconds remaining to pull out a win against the San Diego Chargers on Monday Night Football.

Pitts’ best season with the Browns came in 1972, when he posted career highs in receptions (36), touchdowns (8, tied for 17th-best in franchise history), and his second-best yardage season (620) as the Browns advanced to the playoffs as the AFC’s Wild Card team.

The Browns lost that day to the undefeated Miami Dolphins, in large part because of five interceptions from Phipps, but Pitts also dropped a sure touchdown pass in the first quarter that would prove crucial in the 20-14 defeat.

Pitts played his 10th and final season in 1973 with the Oakland Raiders, where he had just three receptions for 33 yards while appearing in 13 games.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...4/former-browns-wr-frank-pitts-jr-passes-away

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Cleveland Browns bring in a former GM to help with head coach search

Earlier today, we heard reports about how the Cleveland Browns’ head coaching search is ‘unlike any other’ for a variety of reasons. The layers continue to get deeper with respect to the unique nature of their search. Even though general manager Andrew Berry was tasked by owner Jimmy Haslam to lead the search, Berry reportedly brought in a former general manager to help:

Among those involved in the #Browns HC search is former Chargers and Raiders GM Tom Telesco, who has been serving as a consultant and helping the organization in its process to find a head coach.

I’m told he has been in meetings with the in-person candidates. pic.twitter.com/tUbLEsTqms

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) January 23, 2026

Tom Telesco is a two-time general manager in the NFL, having had that role with the Los Angeles Chargers from 2013-2023, before a one-year stint with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024. What is the connection with Berry? Telesco had a variety of roles with the Indianapolis Colts from 1998-2012. If you recall, Berry worked as a scouting assistant with the Colts from 2019-2010, a pro scout for them in 2011, and then a pro scouting coordinator for them from 2012-2015 before joining Cleveland on his first go-around. Therefore, for part of his time in Indianapolis, Telesco would have served as his boss, presumably.

The two likely have a good, trusted relationship, and Cleveland has been known for having former coaches or executives come in as consultants over the years. Does that help ensure the Browns hire a better candidate? Or does it add to the layers of complexity in their search?

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...ring-in-former-gm-help-with-head-coach-search

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Browns head coach search: College coach interview could be next step or already occurred

At a base level, the Cleveland Browns are behind other teams that had head coaching searches this offseason and seem completely fine with it. When soon-to-be Los Angeles Chargers OC Mike McDaniel pulled out of the Browns search, as he has now done with the Baltimore Ravens (before they hired Jesse Minter) and the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland only had one reported Rooney Rule candidate in their pipeline, Nate Scheelhaase.

Browns head coach search: College coach interview could be next step or already occurred

Scheelhaase, along with Grant Udinksi, reportedly had “excellent” first interviews, so the team seems to have prioritized getting second interviews completed with both before moving forward. They also did not react, at least publicly or based on reports, to McDaniel’s decision by scheduling any new candidates for in-person interviews.

While fans and media seem to be lamenting Cleveland’s process, the Browns do not seem to be acting with any urgency. Could they have already interviewed at least one other candidate who would fulfill the Rooney Rule? A college coach, who wouldn’t want his name known due to recruiting and NIL-related issues, could complete an interview with the team having no requirement to announce that it happened.

Jonathan Jones noted that a college coach is an option, along with noting that Scheelhaase is a strong candidate for the job:

NFL fans and media sometimes use the Rooney Rule as a time measuring device. It's annoying. Yes, the Browns had a setback in their search. But they still have time to land a coach as their process continues pic.twitter.com/552lbidEJD

— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) January 23, 2026

We have seen college coaches interview in secret before; perhaps Cleveland’s lack of urgency to add another candidate after McDaniel’s exit indicates they have done that as well or plan to.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...ch-search-college-coach-interview-rooney-rule

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Browns Shedeur Sanders, Kevin Stefanski: Detailed report of ‘extensive’ plan, work

The Cleveland Browns are currently searching for a new head coach to replace Kevin Stefanski after six seasons with the team. Finding the right head coach is the first domino to fall, and as such, has turned the attention away from the Browns roster mostly. As is the fact that Cleveland is not in a position to draft the only top prospect at the quarterback position after winning their last two games of the year.

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Once the head coach is selected, a ton of attention will return to QB Shedeur Sanders, along with QB Deshaun Watson and QB Dillon Gabriel. Sanders is the lightning rod, however.

There was far more talk about Sanders and his relationship with Stefanski than actual information available about said relationship. Fans and media assumed many things, good or bad, based on what they saw from the outside looking in. The reality is that most reporting noted that Stefanski believed in Sanders but believed he needed to sit for the season and develop to become the quarterback they thought he could become.

A part of the Browns gameday coverage, Aditi Kinkhabwala provided a more detailed breakdown of the work Stefanski did with Sanders and his other quarterbacks, including Gabriel, last season:

How new #Falcons HC Kevin Stefanski coached both of his rookie QBs with the #Browns last season:

•created an extensive and specific development plan, tailored to each
•had extra individual practice time every Fri and Mon for Shedeur Sanders when he was not dressing
•had…

— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) January 23, 2026

A lot of details there showing how dedicated Stefanski was to making things work with each of his quarterbacks. Perhaps the most interesting notes are the amount of time spent with Sanders during the time he was inactive and this statement: “was willing to go away from his core principles to suit either rookie when he was starting.” Did the dedication to developing Sanders hurt Joe Flacco or Gabriel during their time starting. Is it always good to make changes to “core principles” because of the quarterback?

Obviously, the results were not good for any Cleveland quarterback last season, outside of a game or two, so it didn’t work. On the surface, the process laid out above seems like a strong plan, even if the outcomes didn’t work.

---

What popped out to you from the detailed report above? Does that look like a strong process for working with quarterbacks despite the results?

Share your Stefanski/QB-related thoughts in the comment section below

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...sanders-kevin-stefanski-browns-dillon-gabriel

 

[Cleveland Browns]

New England Patriots vs. Denver Broncos – AFC Championship, Browns’ fans open thread

The AFC Championship begins at 3:00 PM ET today as the New England Patriots take on the Denver Broncos. The game will air on CBS, with the action being called by Jim Nantz and Tony Romo.

The Patriots are back. Growing up, I cheered for Peyton Manning, but also respected the fact that Tom Brady was part of such a consistent dynasty. Year after year, the Patriots were advancing to the AFC Championship, and oftentimes the Super Bowl. From 2011-2018, they made it eight straight years. It almost feels like a surprise that it’s been so long, as 2025 marks their return to the big game. The Kansas City Chiefs, who were represented in the last six AFC Championships, did not make the postseason this year.

It’s been a big single-season turnaround for New England under new head coach Mike Vrabel. He has his team playing consistent week in and week out, with a solid defense and good quarterback play from second-year man Drake Maye. I think their offense has been a little “off” in these first two postseason games, but they’ve also faced the toughest defensive test in these playoffs. It doesn’t get any easier against the Denver Broncos, a team that features one of the league’s best pass rushes.

Last week, the Broncos had such a feel-good moment when they defeated the Buffalo Bills in overtime, only to have a state of confusion when the news broke that starting quarterback Bo Nix suffered a season-ending injury at the end of the game. Now, the weight of the world is on Jarrett Stidham, with no one really sure how he will perform. Will Sean Payton try to go conservative and trust his receivers, offensive line, and running backs to make enough clutch plays for a close victory? Or, will Payton gamble and let Stidham sling it, with perhaps some trickery mixed into the playbook?

I think the story of this game will be the Broncos’ defense doing everything to help carry the team, and their offense will finish off just enough drives to get the win. Broncos 20, Patriots 17

What do you think, Browns fans? Use this as your open thread to discuss the game.

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Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...ncos-afc-championship-browns-fans-open-thread

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks – NFC Championship, Browns’ fans open thread

The NFC Championship begins at 6:30 PM ET today as the Los Angeles Rams face the Seattle Seahawks. The game will air on FOX, with the action being called by Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady.

This is the third time the Rams and Seahawks have met this season, and both games were very close. In the first one, the Rams held on 21-19. Despite 4 interceptions from QB Sam Darnold, Seattle was still in it, including getting a 61-yard game-winning attempt as time expired (it missed, of course).

In the re-match in Week 16, it was the game of the year in the NFL. This time, the Rams took a 30-14 lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Seahawks got two touchdowns unanswered (and made both two-point conversions, including one on a never-before-seen type of play). Then, in overtime, the Rams scored a touchdown first, but the Seahawks also scored one — and then went for two and the win and got it.

In both games, QB Matthew Stafford has been darn near perfect, while Darnold has made some clutch plays, but also turned the ball over quite a bit. Still, Seattle has been finding a way to be right in it, and it’s a shame that either of these teams has to lose. This is the best NFC Championship match-up we could have asked for. Although I love the Rams’ offense, I’ve felt since early in the season that Seattle looked like the league’s most complete team. Seahawks 31, Rams 28

What do you think, Browns fans? Use this as your open thread to discuss the game.

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Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...awks-nfc-championship-browns-fans-open-thread