In the end, the Cleveland Browns caved in and interviewed former Chargers coach Anthony Lynn –now the Commanders running backs coach–last weekend for their head coaching position, despite the hope that the team would resist the urge to interview a second minority candidate just to fulfill the Rooney Rule. The Browns had a good reason for not fulfilling the requirements of the rule (in-person interviews with at least two minority or female coaches) because one candidate, Mike McDaniel, backed out on them just before his second interview.
But the Browns’ sham interview with Lynn went ahead and, to the surprise of no one, on Tuesday it was declared that Lynn is no longer being considered for the job. Again, it can be questioned whether he was ever an actual candidate at all, but along with Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, Lynn pushed the Browns past the Rooney Rule requirements.
But with the removal of Lynn from the list, the Browns are down to three final candidates to replace Kevin Stefanski, and as Tuesday night wore on, the drama was building.
Browns Have Nate Scheelhaase, Todd Monken and Jim Schwartz in the Final Pool
Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported that the team did additional homework on the candidates throughout Tuesday, a day when many thought the announcement would come. But the white smoke did not come from the Browns’ Sistine Chapel, and the wait continued.
Cabot wrote on Twitter/X: “The #Browns did more work on 3 of their head coach finalists today, and are still working thru some things. The 3 are Jim Schwartz, Todd Monken, & Nate Scheelhaase. We could possibly still hear something tonight.”
It has taken much time and much rejection for the Browns to get to the doorstep of a new coach, starting with a vain pursuit of former Ravens coach John Harbaugh, who leapt to the Giants‘ job without so much as a “Howdy” for the Browns. The Browns also requested, but did not schedule, an interview with Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula.
In addition to McDaniel pulling out and taking a job as the Chargers’ offensive coordinator, the Browns also were turned down by Jesse Minter (who took the Ravens job after canceling his second interview with Cleveland) and Grant Udinski, who pulled out of consideration in order to return to his old gig, as offensive coordinator of the Jaguars, with a raise.
GettyTodd Monken is a candidate to be Browns head coach.
Nate Scheelhaase Has Precious Little Experience
What’s left for the Browns is an interesting mix. Scheelhaase is only 35 and has never been a head coach, but spent a lengthy time talking with the Browns about the job on Monday–the day after the Rams had been eliminated by the Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game.
He is exceptionally green, NFL-wise, having coached for nine years in college, with only one year as an offensive coordinator, at Iowa State. He’s been with the Rams for two seasons. It would be a huge gamble making someone with so little experience a head coach.
But, given where the Browns are, with no sure starter at quarterback and offense that needs to be rebuilt, maybe the gamble is the way to go.
Browns Have Coaching Veterans in the Mix
Schwartz and Monken, meanwhile, are on the opposite end of the spectrum–both started their coaching careers in 1989, two years before Scheelhaase was born.
Monken has been an innovative offensive mind for years, but has bounced around frequently (he was with the Browns for one year, in 2019) and has very limited head coaching experience. Monken was the head coach at Southern Miss in 2013 and went 1-11 in his first year, but had the program at 9-5 two years later.
Schwartz has gained plenty of respect in the locker room of the Browns after devising one of the best defenses in the NFL this season. Players spoke out in favor of keeping Schwartz, and there is a feeling that if he is not the coach, he will return as the DC.
Browns Cut Ex-Head Coach From Search as Tension Builds Around Hiring