Cleveland Browns interview Doug Marrone
By Thomas Moore
The Cleveland Browns are searching for the 16th full-time head coach in franchise history. On Thursday they interviewed former Buffalo Bills head coach Doug Marrone.
The Cleveland Browns completed their interview with former Buffalo Bills head coach Doug Marrone on Thursday as the Browns continue their search for the 16th full-time head coach in franchise history.
Marrone was 15-17 in two years with the Bills before exercising an opt-out clause in his contract because he thought he could get a better job elsewhere after the Bills were sold. His nine-win season in 2014 was the Bills’ best record since 2004 and he was just the third Buffalo coach in franchise history to win 15 games in his first two seasons.
He interviewed for the head coaching positions with the Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears and New York Jets before settling for a job with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he was an assistant head coach and coached the offensive line.
More from Dawg Pound Daily
- How the Browns could maximize Nick Chubb in 2023
- Can Deshaun Watson get to Patrick Mahomes level for Cleveland Browns?
- 3 Cleveland Browns who should see an expanded role in 2023 and 1 who should not
- Is Marcus Davenport on the Browns radar in 2023?
- 5 Free agents from Super Bowl LVII Cleveland Browns should target
Marrone’s departure did sit well with several players in Buffalo, even though it was part of his negotiated contract, in part because he informed the players via text message rather than in person.
He also turned off players, according to Buffalo defensive lineman Marcell Dareus, because of his desire to micro-manage every detail surrounding the team, from mandating that players wear team-issued socks in practice to making players put on sweaters if the meeting room was too cold.
How much that situation matters to the Browns during the interview process remains to be seen. Although if it was that much of an issue, you would think the team would not have brought Marrone in for an interview in the first place.
This is the second time the Browns have interviewed Marrone for the head coach position as they also talked to him after firing head coach Pat Shurmur. At the time Marrone was looking to leave Syracuse University after posting a record of 25-25 in four years as head coach.
In addition to Marrone, the Browns have interviewed Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase and Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin.
According to NFL.com, the Browns are scheduled to interview Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott. In addition, they will interview Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, who will meet with the Browns on Sunday after the Bengals play the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night. Also interviewing with the Browns that day will be Bengals defensive coordinator Paul Guenther.
Dallas Cowboys secondary coach Jerome Henderson will also interview with the Browns.