Background on every reported Cleveland Browns head coach candidate

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 13: Minnesota Vikings Offensive Coordinator Kevin Stefanski calls plays in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 13, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-20.(Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 13: Minnesota Vikings Offensive Coordinator Kevin Stefanski calls plays in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 13, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-20.(Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 11
Next
Cleveland Browns
LANDOVER, MD – SEPTEMBER 23: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Green Bay Packers looks on in the second half against the Washington Redskins at FedExField on September 23, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy

Before the Cleveland Browns and John Dorsey decided to mutually part ways, Mike McCarthy seemed like the favorite to become the next head coach of the Browns. He had deep connections with Cleveland’s front office and brought what the Browns lacked in a head coach last season.

McCarthy is a veteran head coach who understands what needs to be done in terms of game management and how to instill discipline. He also knows how to set up practices and training camp to ensure the team is not overworked before games.

The 56-year-old was fired by the Green Bay Packers towards the end of the 2018 season after Green Bay’s offense struggled to generate points. McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers had disagreements with the offense, which led to Rodgers freelancing on the field. McCarthy’s offense was viewed as outdated and conservative.

However, after spending 2019 without a coaching job, McCarthy took the time to reinvent himself. McCarthy updated his playbooks to match the more modern schemes being used in college and the NFL, while also taking a deeper dive into analytics. He also studied how to improve the fundamentals of a quarterback.

McCarthy is a veteran coach who brings a strong resume that will help him earn the respect of the locker room. After a year away from the NFL, McCarthy will have a chip on his shoulder to prove himself once again as a top NFL head coach.

The Browns interviewed McCarthy Thursday, January 2.