There has been buzz in the circles covering the Cleveland Browns head-coaching search around the team’s current defensive coordinator, Jim Schwartz, a 22-year NFL veteran with head-coaching experience. There has been buzz, too, around very young and inexperienced coaching candidates like Grant Udinski and Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase. But former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel? Not so much.
Still, McDaniel has some success in his past–recent past–and carries a very good reputation as an offensive innovator. At only 42 years old, he could be the perfect marriage of experience and youth, of a little bit of Schwartz-type experience and a bit of Udinski-like fresh-facedness.
Maybe there is not much enthusiasm around McDaniel in Cleveland, and given the way that McDaniel’s tenure in Miami petered out, with an 8-9 season followed by a 7-10 season, that could be understandable. But no matter. McDaniel did impress the Browns enough in his first video interview with the team to warrant a second, in-person interview this week, one of four known candidates to do so.
Mike McDaniel Recent Record Is Deceiving
In fairness to McDaniel and his candidacy with the Browns, the fact that his teams managed to go 15-19 over the past two years is probably a credit to him. In 2024, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was knocked around with two concussions and played only 11 games. He was not quite himself when he did play, but Miami went 6-5.
The Dolphins had a dreadful backup QB situation with Tyler Huntley and Skylar Thompson, and Miami was 2-4 in those players’ starts.
This season was a disaster on and off the field, as Tagovailoa again struggled and was replaced by rookie Quinn Ewers, and star receiver Tyreek Hill suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 4. The Browns got a taste of the Dolphins’ rock-bottom when they throttled Miami, 31-6, in Week 7.
But credit McDaniel for rallying the team to a strong finish. After losing to the Browns, Miami was 1-6 and pretty well out of the playoff picture, but instead of folding in their cards, the Dolphins went 6-4 to close out the year, including a 30-13 upset of Buffalo in Week 10.
Browns Have 6 Second-Interview Candidates So Far
McDaniel will join what has been reported as five other candidates through for a second round of in-person interviews: Schwartz, Udinski, Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase and former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
Here’s the current list of reported Browns candidates and where things stand with them:
- Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, not advancing to second round.
- Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, second interview on Monday, according to reports.
- Ravens former offensive coordinator Todd Monken, second interview on Tuesday, according to reports.
- Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher, no report of a second interview.
- Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde, no report of a second interview but would have to wait until after NFC Championship Game.
- Ex-Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, will get a second interview this week.
- Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, Browns would like a second interview, but can’t meet in person until Rams are eliminated from the playoffs.
- Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, expected for a second interview this week.
- Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, expected for a second interview this week.
- Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, interview requested, but no word on whether it was accepted or scheduled.
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