The Cleveland Browns have changed me
January 15, 2014My Cleveland Sportsman of 2013: Brian Hoyer
January 15, 2014The Minnesota Vikings have hired Mike Zimmer as their new head coach, leaving the Cleveland Browns as the only head coaching vacancy in the NFL.
Zimmer, 57, is the six-year Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator. He also spent seven years as the coordinator in Dallas and one in Atlanta. He previously has 15 years of college coaching experience on his resume.
ESPN’s Chris Mortensen first reported shortly after 10:30 a.m. Wednesday that the two sides were nearing a deal, as had been expected over the past few weeks. Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton was once interviewed, but was not seen as a finalist.
The hiring is being viewed favorably, as Zimmer is a very experienced candidate who had been passed over in several previous searches. Just after the hiring was making the rounds on Twitter, ESPN’s Adam Schefter added this nugget of information:
One candidate Vikings HC Mike Zimmer is considering as his offensive coordinator is Browns OC Norv Turner, per league sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 15, 2014
That would just add a bit more to the angst of Browns fans, even with owner Jimmy Haslam’s letter that he sent out earlier on Wednesday. Turner, 61, only has spent one season with the Browns after coaching San Diego for six years.
On Tuesday, Todd Bowles reportedly removed his name from the Browns search and Ben McAdoo joined the Giants as their offensive coordinator. That leaves Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and former Tennessee head coach Mike Munchak as the only two available interviewed candidates remaining.
The Browns appear to have their eyes set on young Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase. But since he’s declined to do interviews until his season ends, we could be in for a few more weeks of waiting. But now that every other job is filled, there likely will be much less news to share.
[Related: Which is more important for the Browns, the right coach or quarterback?]
Photo: Joe Robbins/Getty Images
36 Comments
No one wants to coach The Browns đ
Dan Gilbert should teach Jimmy Haslam how to Tweet!!!
This is a good thing. Now there is absolutely no reason to hurry the process along. Jimmy and Joe can take all the time they need.
And who knows, after the Seahawks annihilate the ‘Niners Sunday, maybe Harbaugh will get fired and he’ll be ours for the taking. (Okay, no more leftover Christmas Ale before noon.)
They can wait until the off season training camps because the next head coach won’t have to draft or sign free agents and may not even have to select his own DC. I keep hoping Schwartz goes somewhere the longer his name stays available the more I believe he’ll be the next DC in Cleveland. That’ll be another piece of evidence of who is really running the team.
You spin me right round baby right round like a record baby right round round round!!!! ;=)
I CANTS BELIEVE THE BROWNS DIDNT LAND THE GUY THEY DIDNT WANT!!!!11!!111 LUMBARDIE SUX!!!11!1
(So glad that’s the last time I have to type that. And yes, I HAD to type it.)
Did the Browns offer him the job?
Zimmer out of the AFC North and we have no competition for whichever co-ordinator we want to hire from the remaining playoff teams. Win/Win.
Yes, the Browns have offered the HC job to Noone.
They have not offered the job to Someone.
Noone has accepted the Browns’ HC job.
Exactly. While every other team hired their Chudzinsky, we can wait.
last time? just wait until some random guy that some writer once said the Browns might be interested in takes a job for another team.
Chip Kelly!
You’re right. Some random guy might also declare that he’s out of the running.
Okay. I’ll reserve the right to type it again.
So we might still hire Someone. Interesting.
I’m sure Someone wants to coach the Browns.
HEADLINE:
“Sources” indicate that Jim Harbaugh is the frontrunner for the Browns HC job. #hashtag
Yep, he’s got the “inside track.”
BTW, where’s our Nerdo di tutti Nerdi been? We need his wise counsel.
perhaps his counsel is being lent to the FO at this time?
Hasn’t the strategy of the Cleveland Browns getting better because opponents get worse been in place for the past 15 years? I sure remember a lot of chuckles on here early in the season when Pittsburgh was struggling. I even remember people thinking they could be beaten twice. I know I remember a certain someone holding onto hope that for the first time since whatever the year was that the Cleveland Browns would defeat each of their divisional opponents at least once. Or am I misremembering?
Some random guy, or Lord Tressel himself…
Actually, reserve the right to type your phrase 2 times. One for the random guy, the other for the coach that the Browns didn’t want, but had to hire because the coach they wanted declined their offer.
https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1525283_10203168030624459_1033450450_n.jpg
The Browns lost the hiring race…….Same old Browns.
But I thought the only people who have declined haven’t been offered the job? This is the rationale Browns fans live in these days. It is frankly amazing.
Not if you read these sections Steve. They, according to the “fans” have the NFL right where they want ’em! (Way out in front so the Browns can keep their eyes on them)
Paul Browns ghost wouldn’t coach this team!
Oh stop. Now you’re just being ridiculous!
What’s more amazing? Believing that, or believing that the Browns have offered jobs to these guys? Both require evidence that doesn’t exist.
Have you checked the power supply to the Nerd Signal?
Clearly you’ve never watched “Ghost Hunters” ‘cuz if you had you’d know I’m right!
#Don’tLetMeGetInMyZone
So what are we talking about master debater? Hey, it’s all good I have a conference championship to get ready for…let me know how the coaching search ends. Nothin’ but time son!!! ;=)
Whatever it is we’re talking about, it certainly isn’t the Patriots.
I’m not bothered by this at all, because the two guys I’m interested are still in the playoffs. Gase and Roman.
It’s gonna be a tough game this weekend for the Pats man I don’t know. I’d feel a lot better if Wolfork, Spikes and Gronkowski were playing but that’s the NFL. I had Denver v Seattle as my SB pick but I’m hoping to be just half right.
Really, because I thought I saw something saying Who was going to coach the Browns?
Who’s on first. Well, he’s rotating there with Swisher and Santana.