Former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel will not have a second interview with the Cleveland Browns.
McDaniel was scheduled to have a second interview with the Browns but told the team that he’s withdrawing from consideration, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Media.
“Former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel informed the Browns he’s withdrawing from their head coaching search ahead of a scheduled in-person interview Wednesday, per sources,” Pelissero said on X. “McDaniel — who is still a candidate for the Ravens and Raiders HC vacancies — is interviewing for the Chargers offensive coordinator job today. He has multiple OC offers and could have a new home soon.”
The Browns met with McDaniel last week as part of their initial wave of interviews, shortly after he was fired following a 35-33 (.515) record in his four seasons in Miami.
McDaniel spent a year with the Browns as the team’s wide receivers coach in 2014. Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com said McDaniel “has long been on the Browns’ radar for his brilliant offensive mind and innovative play-calling.”
Browns Have Second Meeting With Jim Schwartz, Todd Monken
The Browns have narrowed their candidate pool. The first two coaching prospects to complete second interviews were current defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
The Browns have made it clear they’d like to keep Schwartz in Cleveland, either as the team’s next head coach or as the defensive coordinator under a new skipper. But he has some momentum, with multiple key Browns players backing him.
“I have so much love and respect for coach Schwartz,” Browns cornerback Denzel Ward said. “I would highly recommend coach Schwartz for a head coaching job here, definitely. … He’s helped my game tremendously, puts us in great position, great leader. I can’t say enough great things about him, but I think he’s a guy who you want in a coach and somebody to lead a team.”
The other finalists include Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase.
Browns Facing Critical Offseason Decisions
The Browns are entering a pivotal offseason that will shape the franchise’s short- and long-term future. Cleveland must hire a new head coach, make several key free-agent decisions and capitalize on a draft that includes multiple first-round picks. After the team managed just eight wins over the past two seasons, owner Jimmy Haslam made it clear that change is not only expected — it’s required.
“The next 120 days are crucial for the organization, OK?” Haslam said. “We’ve got to find the right head coach, we’ve got to be efficient again in free agency, we have 10 draft picks, including two No. 1s, we have four of the top four picks in the top three rounds, OK? And we’ve got to get really good players who are really good people again, we’ve got to be opportunistic if trade opportunities come along.
“We are solely focused on having a great 120 days so we can start winning games around here.”
Browns Rejected by Coaching Candidate Ahead of Second Interview