Browns 2026 head coach search tracker: Rumors, interviews, and staff updates

Owner Jimmy Haslam, general manager Andrew Berry and the Cleveland Browns have a long offseason to-do list, but their top priority is finding the right head coach to take their young roster to the next level.

The Browns made the tough decision to move on from Kevin Stefanski on Monday morning, and they may now be the toughest team to predict among the six NFL franchises who are currently searching for a head coach. On one hand, Cleveland needs a prominent leader who can fix its floundering offense, one led by rookies across the board in 2025. On the other hand, the team enters this year’s hiring cycle unsettled at three of the most important positions in the sport: quarterback, left tackle, and wide receiver.

How Berry still has his job and the authority to lead this coaching search is an excellent question and a story for another day. Everything should be on the table, though, for Cleveland, which figures to interview high-profile names, ascending young coaches, offensive-minded guys, defensive-minded guys — and probably some wild-cards that nobody sees coming. 

Here’s the latest reporting on Cleveland’s 2026 head coach search, with real-time updates, as well as other potential staff and coordinator news:

Cleveland Browns 2026 head coach interviews

Todd Monken, OC, Baltimore Ravens

According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the Browns have submitted a request to interview Monken, a coach owner Jimmy Haslam knows from the short-lived Freddie Kitchens era. Monken served as the Browns’ offensive coordinator in 2019 and left for the Georgia Bulldogs after Kitchens was dismissed after one season. He has been the OC for Lamar Jackson and the Ravens since 2023.  

The seriousness of Monken’s candidacy is fair for Browns fans to question, as he’s about to turn 60 in February and hasn’t been a head coach for over a decade now, since his days running Southern Mississippi’s program. He’s a veteran, offensive-minded guy with experience in the AFC North, however, which could check some boxes for Haslam and GM Andrew Berry.

Arden Durde, DC, Seattle Seahawks

We have our first wild-card candidate! There hasn't been a ton of buzz (yet) around Durde, as Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald calls the plays for the Seahawks' dominant defense. He's definitely an interesting candidate, though, as a former coach in the BAFA National Leagues in Great Britain. He got his start in the NFL via the league's Bill Walsh diversity coaching fellowship and has been quietly ascending through stops with Atlanta, Dallas, and now Seattle, where he's been the DC for the past two seasons.

The 46-year-old might still be a year or two away from getting serious HC looks, as he's still yet to be a play caller at the NFL level. We can say this for certain, though: Berry and the Browns are already casting a wide net.

Tommy Rees, OC, Cleveland Browns

This news, delivered by ESPN on the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 7, comes as no surprise, as the Browns have been high on keeping Rees in their building dating back to the regular season. He took over play calling duties from Stefanski starting in Week 10, which is valuable experience that should serve him well in interviews, either with Cleveland, other NFL franchises, or the college ranks, where he's already gotten some looks.

Rees is only 33 years old, and just finished his first season as Cleveland's offensive coordinator. He's probably a long-shot to be promoted to head coach, but this interview opportunity could be the first step in keeping him in the building, perhaps with more responsibility.

Jim Schwartz, DC, Cleveland Browns

Browns fans have been talking about Schwartz replacing Stefanski for months, and it's now crystal clear that the team is thinking the same thing. If Cleveland decides to go with an inside hire — a logical move, if they really want to keep Rees in the building — Schwartz is almost certainly the guy. He has prior head coach experience, and has led a dominant Browns defense over the past three seasons despite the team's brutal struggles on offense and special teams.

The only real argument between Schwartz and Rees is age. Schwartz is nearing his 60th birthday, and Rees represents the kind of young, ascending, offensive mind that's hit often in the NFL over past five hiring cycles. We're about to find out just how serious the Browns are about keeping both coaches, because if Rees becomes a finalist over Schwartz, it would not be surprising to see the latter look to depart Cleveland for a contender.

Dan Pitcher, OC, Cincinnati Bengals

There's some prominent dots to connect here. Pitcher started his NFL journey as a scouting assistant, working under Berry in Indianapolis when Berry was the Colts' director of pro scouting. Pitcher then transitioned into coaching as an offensive assistant with the Bengals in 2016, and building his way to OC in 2024.

Pitcher's age, about to turn 39 this month, connection to Berry, and experience working with some prominent talent in Cincinnati make him a candidate Browns fans should take very seriously.

This article will be updated as more news trickles in!