Cleveland Browns: Is Josh McDaniels the early favorite to be head coach?
By Dan Justik
The Cleveland Browns may have just started the process to find their next head coach, but is Josh McDaniels already at the top of their candidate list?
The Cleveland Browns made the early move to fire head coach Hue Jackson, allowing them to get a jump start on the hiring process. Could that process lead the Browns to hiring Josh McDaniels?
McDaniels has been one of the hottest head coaching candidates for the past few seasons, but he has yet to leave New England. He was almost the Indianapolis Colts head coach this season, but he backed out of the deal before his introductory press conference.
But in an interview with ESPN Cleveland, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio believes that McDaniels could be the favorite to be the next Browns head coach.
Florio says not to discount the possibility that the Browns could trade for their next head coach. Who is the favorite? Mike says Josh McDaniels.
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) November 1, 2018
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Although it is extremely early in the process of the Browns hiring their next head coach, it is interesting to see someone as dialed in as Florio say that McDaniels is the favorite.
Days before McDaniels backed out of the agreement with the Colts, Florio was one of the first to report that the Patriots offensive coordinator was considering staying in New England.
In 2014, McDaniels was considered to be the favorite to be the next Browns head coach. However, the Browns could not officially hire him due to the Patriots being in the playoffs. As the Browns were waiting for McDaniels, the organization decided to interview Ben McAdoo.
Once McDaniels figured out he may not have been the leading candidate for the job, he withdrew his name from consideration. The Browns did not hire McAdoo, and instead hired Mike Pettine to be the head coach.
Every off-season, McDaniels is assumed to be at the top of many organization’s lists to fill head coaching vacancies. With the Patriots consistently being one of the best offenses in the league and Tom Brady looking ageless, many teams want McDaniels’ offensive prowess in their organization.
However, it may be hard to convince McDaniels to leave New England, as he knows that he will always have his choice of teams that want to hire him. He also is reportedly receiving more access to the Patriots personnel decisions, and many see him as the heir to be the next Patriots head coach when Bill Belichick decides to retire.
If the Browns do decide to offer McDaniels the head coaching job, there is some belief that this will be one of his best opportunities. He would have a young franchise quarterback in Baker Mayfield. A young defense that has shown the potential to be one of the best in the league. He would also have plenty of assets and cap space to add players.
He also has ties in Northeast Ohio, as he was born in Barberton, Ohio, a one hour drive from the team’s facility in Berea. He attended Canton McKinley High School, and went to college at John Carroll University.
Next. Ryan Lindley will be more help for Baker Mayfield. dark
His Ohio connections and a young, talented roster could be too much for McDaniels to pass up. If Jimmy Haslam still thinks favorably of McDaniels, the job could be his if he wants to leave New England.