Cleveland Browns interview Teryl Austin

Dec 3, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin poses for a photo with professional golfer Jason Day before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

The Cleveland Browns are searching for the 16th full-time head coach in franchise history. One coach they have interviewed is Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin.

The Cleveland Browns completed their interview with Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin as the Browns continue their search for the 16th full-time head coach in franchise history.

Austin’s interview came on the same day the Browns interviewed Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase.

Austin spent two years as the Lions’ defensive coordinator with mixed results. His first season the Lions were second in total defense, third in scoring defense and first against the run. (How about that, Browns fans?)

This past season the Lions struggled after losing defensive linemen Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley and C.J. Mosley to free agency, and linebacker DeAndre Levy to a hip injury on the opening weekend of the season. The Lions finished the year ranked just 18th in total defense, but the unit played better as the season went along and helped Detroit close out the year by winning six of their final eight games.

After giving up more than 30 points per game through the first eight games of the season, the defense has given up 19.3 per game over the second half of the season.

“A lot of places I’ve been, I’ve had D-coordinators who were playing checkers when everybody else was playing chess,” Lions cornerback Josh Wilson told The Detroit Free Press. “This guy understands the chess game and how it works, and he knows how to talk to people.”

More from Dawg Pound Daily

Austin is also reportedly calm in the face of turmoil, a quality that would certainly come in handy in Cleveland.

“I saw his consistency,” cornerback Rashean Mathis said told The Free Press. “He didn’t waver. He might have gotten a little more fiery than usual, because desperate times bring desperate measures. There is a little more sense of urgency, but the details were always there. What he preached early, he preached later.”

Like just about every candidate the Browns are talking to, Austin is in demand. He interviewed earlier in the week with the Miami Dolphins and is also scheduled to interview with the Philadelphia Eagles – teams that are both also hot on the trail of Gase. Austin also reportedly has an interview scheduled with the New York Giants.

Prior to joining the Lions, Austin was a defensive backs coach with the Baltimore Ravens, Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks. He also spent one year working as Urban Meyer’s defensive coordinator at the University of Florida.

According to NFL.com, the Browns are scheduled to interview Jacksonville Jaguars offensive line coach Doug Marrone and Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott.

The Browns will also 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.

Home/Browns News