Potential candidates if the Cleveland Browns make head coaching change

Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson has been on the hot seat, and potential candidates to replace him at the end of the season have been revealed.

Despite the Cleveland Browns winning more games in the 2018 season that in the two prior seasons combined, head coach Hue Jackson has been on the hot seat.

In all of the Browns games this season, it has been apparent that they have been out-coached in every aspect of the game.

If the Browns are unable to to win more games this season or Jackson proves incapable to help the team win games, there is a good chance that he could be replaced at the end of the season. Albert Breer of the MMQB joined 92.3 The Fan on Wednesday, and he revealed three coaches that would interest the Browns if they move on from Jackson at the end of the season.

.@AlbertBreer tells @BullandFox that if #Browns make a move at head coach at some pt, two obvious names would be Josh McDaniels and Lincoln Riley. One darkhorse candidate, Iowa St head coach/NEO native Matt Campbell, "people connected to John Dorsey, really like Matt Campbell."
— Keith Britton (@KeithBritton86) October 17, 2018

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Lincoln Riley has been the most speculated coach that would interest the Browns. He has quickly risen up the coaching ranks, and his offense has taken the NFL world by storm. It also helps that Riley is the former quarterback coach, offensive coordinator, and head coach of Browns franchise quarterback Baker Mayfield.

His connection to Mayfield makes many believe that no matter what, Riley will be the next head coach of the Cleveland Browns. But Riley runs the Oklahoma football program, and it is a job that not many other coaches would leave. It would likely take a lot for Riley to want to leave Norman, but being able to coach his former quarterback could be the push he needs.

Josh McDaniels has long been a hot head coaching candidate due to his connection with Bill Belichick and the efficiency of the Patriots offense. Many believe that he has grown since his tumultuous time as head coach of the Denver Broncos and he is truly ready to run a team.

McDaniels accepted the Indianapolis Colts head coaching job last off-season, but decided to turn down the offer the day before his introductory press conference. The thought was the Patriots offered McDaniels to be the coach-in-waiting and have him take over the Patriots when Belichick retires. However, that theory has been refuted.

McDaniels has Ohio connections, as he was born in Barberton, Ohio, attended Canton McKinley High School, and went to college at John Carroll University. Those connections may not be enough for him to leave New England, but having a quarterback like Mayfield and the cap space the Browns have could be what McDaniels would need to leave the Patriots.

The most surprising name of the three coaches is Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell. Campbell has made Iowa State a respectable program, and they have played ranked teams tough. In fact, under Campbell, Iowa State is 5-2 against ranked teams since 2017.

With Breer saying that people connected to Browns general manager John Dorsey like Campbell could mean a lot if Cleveland decides to make a head coaching change. Dorsey has stuck with guys that he has liked, with Mayfield in the last draft process as an example. If that report is true, there is a chance Campbell could be at the top of the list of potential candidates.

Next. Rookie LB Genard Avery to have expanded role. dark

Every NFL team that replaces their head coach wants to find the next Sean McVay, a young and innovative coach. It is apparent the Browns want to find the next best young coach instead of looking at a NFL retread coach. If the Browns do decide to make a head coaching change, they could surprise a lot of people with who they hire.

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