Cleveland Browns interview Hue Jackson
By Thomas Moore
The Cleveland Browns are searching for the 16th full-time head coach in franchise history. On Sunday they interviewed Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson.
The Cleveland Browns continued the search for the 16th full-time head coach on Sunday as the team interviewed Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson.
Jackson is the latest in a growing list of candidates to be interviewed for the position, joining New England defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott, Dallas Cowboys secondary coach Jerome Henderson, Jacksonville Jaguars assistant head coach/offensive line coach Doug Marrone, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase.
The Browns will face competition for Jackson as, in addition to meeting with the Browns, Jackson interviewed today with the San Francisco 49ers, who reportedly may be interested in hiring sooner rather than later.
Discussed #49ers coaching search on @NFLGameDay: Hue Jackson interviews with 49ers brass. If all goes well, he could end today as SF's coach
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 10, 2016
Jackson would be an interesting choice for the Browns as he is credited with helping to turn Bengals’ quarterback Andy Dalton into a decent quarterback. Jackson also brings with him knowledge of the AFC North Division after spending the past four years with the Bengals.
Cincinnati was just middle of the road in overall offense under Jackson – finishing 15th in the NFL both years – but the Bengals did improve in points per game from 15th in Jackson’s first season to seventh this year.
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Prior to joining the Bengals he spent one years as the head coach of the Oakland Raiders, finishing 8-8. While that may not sound like much, that season is tied for the best finish by an Oakland team since 2002.
In October, Jackson’s agent, John Thornton, told Fox Sports that Jackson will not take another head coaching job unless it is the right one.
“I think at some point he’ll get another shot in the NFL,” Thornton said. “Talking to him over the years, he wouldn’t jump at just any job. It would be something that he would consider himself a difference-maker at and a place where people believe in him.”
The opportunity to be a difference-maker certainly exists with the Browns, in theory at least, so that would meet at least one of Jackson’s criteria.