The Cleveland Browns are actively searching for a new head coach.
In late January, that’s not novel news. Several NFL teams are still looking for their next sideline leader in 2026. The problem for the Browns, compared to their peers with coaching vacancies, is that no one appears to want the Cleveland job. At least, no one respectable and or with something to lose on a long-term, professional level. Their next coach will be their 13th this century. (Psst, that’s a lot of turnover.) Hmm. Maybe if the Browns’ newly-minted “Pro Bowl” quarterback was actually Pro Bowl-worthy, some folks might feel differently about their situation.
As it stands, can you really blame anyone with a normal sense of logic for keeping the Browns at arm’s length?
After Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski withdrew his name from the Browns’ consideration on Monday, that’s now three separate gentlemen — including new Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel and new Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter — who have effectively told the Browns, “no thanks.” Sure, there’s always the possibility that some of these candidates ultimately denied the Browns once they learned they probably weren’t getting the job. I won’t deny that.
But the optics remain undeniable. At a time of unstable transition under general manager Andrew Berry (though, to be fair, when hasn’t that applied to the Browns?), no one seems willing to give Cleveland a genuine chance. It probably doesn’t help matters that the Browns are reportedly giving their coaching candidates additional homework assignments in the form of things like a cognitive test and a personality test that only serve as the “foundation” for an initial three-hour Zoom interview.
I’m sorry. Is this candidate search for a corporate desk job or to be the head coach of a professional football team?
If non-NFL coaching laborers don’t appreciate jumping through extra, kind-of-insulting hoops to secure employment, I can’t imagine anyone the Browns have interviewed so far looks kindly upon their overcomplicated hiring process. It sounds like a massive waste of time for people who are certainly doing more than just talking to the Browns right now. With their track record of four whole winning seasons this millennium, the Browns don’t get to act like their head-coaching job is special, even if it is ultimately one of 32 exclusive slots.
They should be groveling at the feet of someone willing to risk their reputation to try to rescue this moribund franchise, not the other way around.
Sincerely, I wish the Browns great luck in finding someone willing to chain themselves to an organization that has chewed up and spat out so many promising coaching talents and young players over the years. Ask Kevin Stefanski and Myles Garrett how they really feel about the Browns either throwing them under the bus or wasting their time. I can’t imagine they have many, if any, nice things to say. They’re definitely not the only people who feel that way, too.
The Browns want a new head coach. Outside of some fool who will inevitably be desperate enough to subject themselves to one of the NFL’s worst-run organizations, clearly, no one wants them.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Browns keep losing head coach candidates because they’re awful Browns
