One of the biggest names on this year’s HC and OC carousels, Mike McDaniel has options. And he will not be going to Cleveland. The former Dolphins HC informed the Browns he is not taking their second interview, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports.
McDaniel is out of this Browns race, but he has met with the Raiders and Ravens. Multiple OC offers have also come in, per Pelissero, who adds McDaniels’ Chargers OC meeting is today. McDaniel was slated to meet with the Browns in-person Wednesday.
The Browns have been connected to McDaniel since before firing Kevin Stefanski, but since the former’s Dolphins ouster, he has been the most popular non-John Harbaugh name available. The Browns, Falcons, Ravens, Raiders and Titans have interviewed him for HC jobs. The Bolts, Eagles, Ravens, Lions and Buccaneers scheduled OC interviews. New Titans HC Robert Saleh is also believed to have interest in bringing his ex-49ers coworker to Tennessee as his play-caller.
Cleveland had a second McDaniel interview booked. The AFC North team is believed to be strongly considering promoting DC Jim Schwartz, though it has requested a second meeting with Rams pass-game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase. Jaguars OC Grant Udinski landed a second interview as well. The Rams remaining in the playoffs has Scheelhaase’s second meeting on hold. Ravens OC Todd Monken, who seems to have a landing spot in place with the Giants as OC, is going through a second Browns HC interview today.
Although Stefanski led Cleveland to playoff berths in 2020 and 2023, the Browns have slipped back to their regular place — well, since their 1999 relaunch — in the NFL hierarchy after combining for just eight wins over the past two seasons. This job is rarely seen as a coveted position, with Jimmy Haslam known for meddling. This is the first time, however, the Browns have searched for a head coach since authorizing the disastrous Deshaun Watson extension. That contract is expected to remain on the payroll this year, and a historic dead money bill — from void years created through restructures — is on tap for 2027. That will affect this search, with the Browns being hamstrung by that 2022 mistake for at least two more years.
It is interesting that McDaniel would back out of a head coaching search when he is not assured to stay on the HC radar. But working with a solid quarterback as an OC would naturally appeal to the four-year Dolphins coach. The Bills’ HC job is also open, though McDaniel has yet to be connected to that appealing position. But he could have the opportunity to work with Justin Herbert in L.A., Baker Mayfield in Tampa or even Lamar Jackson in Baltimore — after being mentioned as an option for the Ravens’ HC or OC role.
McDaniel’s destination should be known soon. He is also not the only candidate to withdraw from a search during this year’s cycle. Stefanski exited the Raiders’ HC search, soon becoming the next Falcons leader.
Wow … thought it was the only HC job he would get? He must have an offer somewhere else … The Raiders?
@brian wolf. Yeah, but he might be looking at the ravens, chargers, bills OC jobs, and leave after a year. I dont think he will take steelers, cardinals, raiders, and browns. Browns will probably go to a DC since the defense is loaded.
He’s being smart, Browns are screwed without cap and a QB for at least this year and likely next. Plus Haslam is not known for patience he might be looking again in two years and that would probably be for OC jobs only if he got canned from two HC jobs. If he’s an OC with a top 5/10 QB and helps take them to next level he’ll have options for HC jobs and can pick one with a franchise QB or path towards one.
@rexhudler86 – I lean towards him taking an OC spot for a year or two also because there are some great choices in Philly, Baltimore and Buffalo (honestly thought if he was gonna be an OC it’d be dangerous and appealing for him with Detroit weapons but they hired petzing).
But if he goes HC, I could easily see him being open to Arizona, both the team and the warm state/dome setup. People aren’t high on Kyler but due to limited FA and draft options, he’ll probably stay a year. So I could see mcdaniels liking Kyler who’s better than Tua (and he believed in him for a while),michael wilson (top 2 or 3 in league in receiving yds last half season i think) and trying to get something out of marvin Harrison Jr, plus hopefully healthy rbs returning. And Walter Nolan and will johnson on defense who looked great in their small sample size. Plus a top 5 pick. If it doesn’t work out, can get his 2nd year to draft his own qb in deeper class.
I’m a jags fan in AZ so not a homer but Arizona cardinals and Phoenix is appealing to coaches like McDaniel, (kingsbury), McDermott, etc.
Sometimes its better to just wait.
Let Jim Schwarz have it. Need a quality qb b4 that job is desirable again.
I would think anyone with ties to Shanahan would avoid Cleveland like the plague while Haslam is the owner.
Makes sense on his end. He’s almost certainly going to get a second shot at head coach some day. Third shots are much less common. After getting fired from a job that was plagued by problems that predated him, Cleveland is not the best next step. They have some young talent and extra draft capital, but they don’t have a good quarterback answer, Watson and his cap hit are still there, the offensive line needs a complete revamping, and the receiver group is still lacking. Seems like there’s a high probability whoever takes this job loses it again in a couple of years without ever having had a chance. I’d much rather be OC in a better situation for a year if I were him, and that’s several open places.
With him interviewing with the raiders yesterday and after seeing Mendoza play in person??? I think he’s coming to us