Cleveland Browns: Potential head coach candidates no one is talking about
By Randy Gurzi
David Shaw, Stanford head coach
The name Jim Harbaugh has been thrown around some this year and there aren’t many Browns fans who would be thrilled at this hire. That has a lot to do with the rivalry between Harbaugh’s Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes. But it’s not the only reason.
Harbaugh is also a bit tough to deal with and his approach can be a bit much at times. Should he return to the NFL, he’ll probably have success but it will be short term as players will tire of him. In short, he’s probably better suited for college where everyone leaves after three or four years.
More from Browns News
- How the Browns could maximize Nick Chubb in 2023
- Can Deshaun Watson get to Patrick Mahomes level for Cleveland Browns?
- 3 Cleveland Browns who should see an expanded role in 2023 and 1 who should not
- Is Marcus Davenport on the Browns radar in 2023?
- 5 Free agents from Super Bowl LVII Cleveland Browns should target
That doesn’t mean there can’t be someone with a similar mindset to join the Browns — such as Harbaugh’s successor at Stanford, David Shaw.
He was the offensive coordinator for the Cardinals from 2007-2010 and then took over in 2011. Overall, Shaw is 86-34 as the head coach at Stanford but could look to make the jump to the NFL.
If he did make the move, it wouldn’t be his first time on a professional sideline. Shaw was the quarterback coach for the Oakland Raiders in 2001 before joining the Ravens in 2002. He was the quarterback and wide receiver coach for three seasons in Baltimore before becoming just the receiver coach in 2005.
He’s been a name to consider in the past, and at 47-years of age, he’s still young enough to have a long career in the NFL should someone give him a shot.