Cleveland Browns request permission to interview Colts DC Matt Eberflus
By Dan Justik
The Cleveland Browns list of candidates for their head coaching vacancy continues to grow, with the team taking a look at Matt Eberflus.
The Cleveland Browns have requested permission to interview Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator, Matt Eberflus, for their head coaching vacancy, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero.
The Browns will have to wait to interview Eberflus, as the Colts are preparing for their Wild Card playoff game against the Houston Texans.
Eberflus is in his first season as the Colts defensive coordinator, and he has helped turn around a group that ranked 30th in total defense the previous two seasons.
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Under Eberflus’ guide, the Colts defense ranked 11th in the league this season in total defense, allowing 339.4 yards per game. The Colts allowed 21.5 points per game, the 10th best mark in the NFL. The Colts were a middle of the pack defense against the pass, but were a top-10 team against the run.
Eberflus has been a NFL coach since 2009, when he started as the Cleveland Browns linebackers coach. The 48-year-old coach spent two seasons with the Browns before moving on to the Dallas Cowboys. He was with the Cowboys from 2011-2017, spending most of his time as the linebackers coach. He also was the Cowboys passing game coordinator in 2016 and 2017.
Eberflus was one of the coaches that was going to join Josh McDaniels’ staff with the Colts. Despite McDaniels ultimately returning to the Patriots, Frank Reich decided to keep Eberflus on the staff as the defensive coordinator. It proved to be a great decision, as Eberflus helped lead the Colts young defense on a late season run to make the playoffs.
The Browns were expected to take a wide look at candidates for their head coaching vacancy. Although they seem to want a offensive-minded coach to pair with Baker Mayfield, they have already requested permission to interview two defensive coaches in Eberflus and Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores.
Next. Jimmy Haslam reportedly interested in Adam Gase. dark
Ebeflus is an Ohio native, as he was born in Toledo, Ohio. He started his coaching career with the University of Toledo in 1992, where he stayed on the staff until 2000.