Cleveland Browns dipping into Shanahan roots for offensive coordinator

The Cleveland Browns are beginning their search for Kevin Stefanski’s offensive coordinator, and they seem to be looking around the Kyle Shanahan tree.

As the Cleveland Browns are in the middle of their process to find the team’s next general manager, new head coach Kevin Stefanski is at work attempting to build his coaching staff. Stefanski is still searching for both of his coordinators close to a week after his hiring.

Who Stefanski decides to hire as his offensive coordinator will draw plenty of attention. During his press conference, Stefanski said it will be determined who calls plays after he hires the offensive coordinator. Stefanski said it will depend on if there is someone on staff who will help the Browns win if that person calls plays. If not, Stefanski will call plays.

The Browns have begun their process of searching for Stefanski’s offensive coordinator, as it was reported by Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot on Saturday that the Browns will be interviewing Rich Scangarello, who was the Broncos’ offensive coordinator in 2019.

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The Broncos decided to fire Scangarello after just one season with the team. Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported Broncos head coach Vic Fangio had issues with his offensive assistants and would overrule some of Scangarello’s play calls.

In his one season with the Broncos, Scangarello’s finished the season with the 28th-ranked total offense, averaging 298.6 yards per game, and the 28th-ranked scoring offense, averaging 17.6 points per game. Denver had the 20th-ranked rushing offense and 28th-ranked passing offense. However, he was tasked with starting three different quarterbacks, but helped rookie Drew Lock excel at the end of the season.

Prior to joining the Broncos, Scangarello spent three seasons on Kyle Shanahan’s staff – one season in Atlanta and two seasons with the 49ers. His time as the 49ers quarterbacks coach helped him earn the offensive coordinator job with the Broncos.

Scangarello is not the only coach who worked under Shanahan that the Browns are expected to interview. San Francisco’s run game coordinator Mike McDaniel and passing game coordinator Mike LaFleur are both expected to be candidates for Cleveland’s offensive coordinator position.

However, with the 49ers still in the playoffs, the Browns have been unable to conduct interviews with either coordinator. But as the Browns interview Scangarello and potentially wait to interview the 49ers coaches, it appears that the Browns want their next offensive coordinator to be a Shanahan disciple.

If the Browns are waiting to interview McDaniel or LaFleur, the Browns may not have an offensive coordinator until after the 49ers are eliminated from the playoffs. However, it seems to be pretty clear what Stefanski is looking for to fill the offensive coordinator position, and that is someone who learned under Kyle Shanahan.