The Cleveland Browns are getting their coaching search underway as teams are already signing the top candidates. The Houston Texans are prepared to lockdown Penn State coach Bill O'Brien to a deal. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have hired Lovie Smith to take over the team. With plenty of jobs open, the Browns are getting aggressive in their pursuit of landing a top option. With Josh McDaniels set to interview on Saturday, the next top target is current Auburn coach, Gus Malzahn.
ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports the Browns have scheduled an interview with the New England Patriots offensive coordinator. According to league rules, only assistants on teams with first-week playoff byes can interview for any coaching vacancies, but the team cannot offer them the job until the current season is officially over.
The Browns have also requested interviews with Arizona defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase. Right now, McDaniels is the only candidate with an interview scheduled. Despite saying that he had no interest in leaving the Patriots, the coordinator has decided to at least sit down with the team.
This would not be McDaniels' first head coaching rodeo. The coordinator spent time as the head coach for the Denver Broncos and is responsible for starting Tebowmania. Once released by the team, he reunited back with the Patriots to take over his role.
Along with McDaniels, Malzahn is gaining the most interest. CBSSports.com reports that the Auburn head coach, along with Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin are the two leading candidates from the college ranks. Malzahn is currently preparing Auburn for the BCS national championship game, so the Browns will have to wait.
Hiring the Auburn coach would be a big move for Cleveland. He is responsible for the biggest college program turnaround after leading the disaster that was Auburn football to a championship season after earning just one conference win last year. Jason La Candora of CBS Sports reports Cleveland views Malzahn as possibly the next Chip Kelly with his no-huddle, high octane offensive system. Malzahn has zero NFL experience so the hire would be a risk as his philosphies may or may not transfer to the professional ranks.
There is no confirmation that the Browns have officially reached out to Malzahn or Franklin. The Auburn athletic director has already announced plans to try and sign the head coach to a nice extension in the offseason, so expect a lot of money to start getting tossed around.
