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Browns Request HC Interview With Rams Pass Game Coordinator Nate Scheelhaase

By | at January 11, 2026 9:51 am

The Sean McVay coaching tree continues to bear fruit. As ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports, the Browns have requested a head coaching interview with Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase. 

Scheelhaase, 35, made the jump to the professional ranks in 2024 after spending the entirety of his career as a collegiate staffer. That included his work as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Iowa State under highly-respected HC Matt Campbell, which clearly caught McVay’s attention.

After just one season on McVay’s staff, Scheelhaase landed two OC interviews in last year’s cycle and was even considered the favorite for the Jaguars’ gig. He ultimately opted to remain in Los Angeles with an expanded role.

In 2024, Scheelhaase helped the Rams finish as a top-10 passing offense despite injuries to Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. In 2025, with 16 games of Nacua and 14 games of Davante Adams, Los Angeles topped the league in terms of both total offense and scoring offense, which clearly appeals to a Browns team that finished near the bottom of the pack in both categories.

Obviously, Cleveland does not currently possess anywhere close to the quarterback and receiver talent that the Rams boast, and a candidate who appears to be a rising star in the coaching world may prefer to wait for a more appealing opportunity. On the other hand, a young staffer who has never served as a coordinator at the NFL level could certainly be swayed by an HC contract if one were to be offered. He is also a possible candidate (f0r the second year in a row) for the Bucs’ offensive coordinator job.

ESPN’s Peter Schrager recently suggested both Scheelhaase and Rams OC Mike LaFleur could find themselves in the HC pool this year. Thus far, no interview requests have come LaFleur’s way, though that could certainly change in the near future.

Here is an updated look at how the Browns’ search to replace Kevin Stefanski is shaping up, via our HC tracker:

4 comments Cleveland Browns Los Angeles Rams

Ravens Interview Kevin Stefanski For HC; Browns Plan John Harbaugh Interview

By | at January 10, 2026 10:43 pm

The Ravens and Browns will always be tied to each other. The Ravens are sometimes referred to as “the old Browns,” in reference to the old Cleveland franchise’s move to Baltimore in 1996. Now, according to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com, the two cities could potentially see two coaches make the same (and opposite) move that the franchise made 30 years ago.

Cabot reports that former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski interviewed with the Ravens yesterday for an opportunity to replace John Harbaugh as the team’s next head coach. Meanwhile, the Browns are planning to set up an interview with Harbaugh to fill the seat left vacant after they fired Stefanski on Monday. Cabot reports that Cleveland was one of the original seven teams to immediately reach to Harbaugh following his Tuesday dismissal, and they hope to meet with him as he begins his interview circuit in the coming week.

Harbaugh and Stefanski are two of the hotter names in the coaching market right now. After a stagnant Ravens team cut Harbaugh loose, he immediately jumped to the top of every team’s wish list, boasting a 180-113 regular season record, having made the playoffs in two-thirds of his seasons in Baltimore, and having brought the franchise its second-ever Lombardi Trophy. His reputation as a leader of men and culture-builder had every team with a vacancy (and some without one) reaching out to inquire on his availability.

Stefanski’s success in Cleveland wasn’t nearly as sustained, but it was still incredibly impressive. He came into his first head coaching opportunity to take over a franchise that hadn’t won a playoff game since 1994, made the playoffs since 2002, or even had a winning record since 2007, and he broke all three streaks in his first year with the team. Stefanski also maintained some level of success over the next few years, keeping the Browns competitive despite a quarterback carousel that, at times, felt beyond his control and taking the team to the playoffs a second time in 2023.

Stefanski’s ability to keep the team mostly afloat despite blow after blow being dealt to the quarterbacks room due to injury or legal trouble has teams giving the 43-year-old a strong look to remain a head coach in 2026. Now that we know Baltimore has been involved, aside from the Browns, the Cardinals are the only team with a vacancy that we haven’t seen linked to Stefanski in any way. He’s been a rumored candidate in Miami, plans to interview today with the Titans and later with the Falcons, and has already interviewed with the Giants, Raiders, and now the Ravens.

The Ravens’ head coaching search will be an extensive, competitive one as the job became, perhaps, the most attractive opening the moment Harbaugh was let go. Stefanski becomes the 11th name linked to the position and the fourth candidate to have interviewed for it. The distribution of candidates has been extremely even concerning offensive versus defensive background, and Stefanski’s addition to the list pushes the ratio in favor of offensive candidates 6:5.

In Cleveland, Harbaugh is one of eight candidates currently in the mix. The Browns have already interviewed two internal candidates (both coordinators Tommy Rees and Jim Schwartz) and one external candidate, Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde. They have interviews scheduled with Harbaugh’s former offensive coordinator, Todd Monken, and Bengals OC Dan Pitcher. and have requested one with Chargers DC Jesse Minter.

You can follow along with all the team openings and candidates involved in PFR’s 2026 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker. We’ll see if the cities of Baltimore and Cleveland trade pieces once again, but as the Tracker will show, there are many names in consideration for both teams and many teams interested in both candidates.

12 comments Baltimore Ravens Cleveland Browns

Fallout From Mike McDaniel’s Firing; Latest On John Harbaugh

By | at January 10, 2026 4:39 pm

JANUARY 10: As expected, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal tells us that Cleveland has an interview scheduled with McDaniel “for some point next week.” He adds that Harbaugh is also an interview they are trying to schedule, but they’ll need to make the cut.

JANUARY 8: The Dolphins brought an end to the Mike McDaniel era with Thursday’s firing. The move came as a surprise to McDaniel, who previously informed his staff that he’d continue as the Dolphins’ head coach, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com says.

McDaniel was involved in Miami’s search for a general manager, an indication he’d stay, but it didn’t bode well for him when team brass began asking candidates about working with a different head coach.

Although owner Stephen Ross was a McDaniel advocate throughout the coach’s four-year tenure, the tide began turning on Tuesday. McDaniel presented a plan to Ross then, but the latter was “leaning toward making a change” when their meeting ended, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes.

Despite valuing McDaniel’s “intelligence and offensive mind,” Ross didn’t want to continue with the “status quo,” according to ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques. That would have meant giving McDaniel another chance after two straight sub-.500 seasons in which the Dolphins combined for a 15-19 record.

McDaniel’s firing came not long after the Ravens moved on from John Harbaugh on Tuesday, though the Dolphins’ decision was unrelated, Jeff Darlington of ESPN reports. While Darlington adds that the Dolphins have not reached out to Harbaugh to gauge his interest in the position, that will change “very soon,” Jackson relays.

There’s a “longtime relationship” between Ross and the Harbaugh family, Jackson notes, and that may aid the team in a potential pursuit of the 63-year-old coach. Indeed, the Dolphins and Giants are among teams Harbaugh will seriously consider for his second head coaching job, per Jackson. Harbaugh is reportedly the Giants’ preferred candidate.

As for McDaniel’s future, his next stop may be in the AFC North, Harbaugh’s former division. The Browns are interested in McDaniel, as reports from Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com and Josina Anderson of The Exhibit indicate. The team has “long admired” McDaniels’ offensive mind, according to Cabot, and there’s familiarity between him and the organization. As McDaniel climbed up the coaching ranks, the Kyle Shanahan disciple spent 2014 in Cleveland as its wide receivers coach.

The Browns have not set up a meeting with McDaniel yet. However, it’s possible an interview will occur next week, according to Cabot. With a total of eight head coaching vacancies across the NFL, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see multiple teams consider McDaniel.

5 comments Cleveland Browns Miami Dolphins New York Giants

Browns To Interview Todd Monken For HC; Ravens’ OC Interviewed For Michigan Job

By | at January 10, 2026 7:53 am

JANUARY 10: The Browns will interview Monken today, per a team announcement.

JANUARY 6: Todd Monken does not appear to be assured he will be back with the Ravens for a fourth year as their OC, but he has received an interview request about a head coaching position.

The Browns want to speak with Monken about their HC vacancy, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Monken has been with the Ravens since 2023 but has a brief history with the Browns. Cleveland employed Monken as its OC during Freddie Kitchens‘ one-and-done season at the controls in 2019.

Although Andrew Berry is a two-stint Browns staffer, the current Cleveland GM was in Philadelphia during Monken’s time in northeast Ohio. The Browns have retained Berry despite the disastrous Deshaun Watson contract remaining on the payroll, firing HC Kevin Stefanski on Monday. More interview requests will be coming out of Cleveland, possibly today, as the Browns search for a new HC for the first time since 2020.

John Dorsey resided as the Browns’ GM during Monken’s brief Cleveland stay. The Browns oozed dysfunction under the overmatched Kitchens, with Monken serving as an experienced staffer to backstop the underqualified head coach. Like Kyle Shanahan in 2014, Monken was believed to be unhappy during his lone season as Browns OC. Monken, 59, became the Georgia HC after the Berry-Stefanski duo arrived in 2020. The Ravens hired him after three seasons in Athens, and the results have mostly been impressive.

Lamar Jackson won MVP honors in 2023 and took home first-team All-Pro acclaim following a statistically superior 2024 season. This season brought a step back, due largely to Jackson injury trouble resurfacing. Fourth in scoring offense in 2023 and third last season, Baltimore ranked 11th (to go with a 16th-place yardage finish) this season before being eliminated in Week 18. Because the Ravens were eliminated, Monken can meet with the Browns beginning Wednesday. Had Baltimore beaten Pittsburgh, Monken would need to wait until three days after a Ravens wild-card game to conduct interviews.

This request is interesting due to Monken’s past in Cleveland but also for his standing in Baltimore presently. Rumors about the Ravens considering coordinator changes have come up following the disappointing 8-9 season. Zach Orr has been under more fire than Monken, but it is certainly notable the Ravens would consider firing a coach who had Jackson on the first-team All-Pro tier as recently as 2024.

Monken met with the Chargers and Panthers in 2024 and interviewed for the Bears, Jaguars and Raiders’ positions last year. After not landing those jobs, the Ravens gave him an extension. Like Kliff Kingsbury entering the week, Monken is on the HC radar but not assured of retaining his own OC post. The Commanders have since moved on from Kingsbury; will the Ravens make Monken a coaching free agent soon as well?

In addition to Monken’s potential opportunities in the pros, The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec notes he interviewed for the Michigan HC job last month. The Wolverines ended up hiring Utah’s Kyle Whittingham, but it is obviously notable Monken took the meeting. His Ravens status will be known soon. While Jackson isn’t going anywhere, big changes could be on tap in Baltimore.

0 comments Baltimore Ravens Cleveland Browns

Cowboys Denied Request To Interview Falcons DC Jeff Ulbrich; Matt Patricia On Radar?

By | at January 9, 2026 9:33 pm

JANUARY 9: According to Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News, the Cowboys concluded their interviews with Jones and Banda today, and Leonhard’s interview will take place tomorrow.

JANUARY 8: Now in the market for a defensive coordinator to replace the fired Matt Eberflus, the Cowboys struck out in their attempt to interview Falcons D-coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. The Falcons denied their request, Jordan Schultz reports.

The firing of head coach Raheem Morris has left Ulbrich and Atlanta’s other assistants in limbo. It’s unclear if any of them will return, but Falcons owner Arthur Blank has made it clear he doesn’t want to lose Ulbrich.

If Blank has his way, Ulbrich will remain the Falcons’ defensive coordinator under their next head coach, per Schultz. However, Blank will leave Ulbrich’s future up to Morris’ successor. If that individual doesn’t want to retain Ulbrich, he may end up with the Cowboys or another team in the next few weeks.

While Ulbrich is not a candidate for Dallas right now, other possibilities have emerged. The Cowboys have also requested interviews with Vikings defensive pass game coordinator Daronte Jones, Broncos assistant HC/pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard and Browns safeties coach Ephraim Banda, according to Todd Archer of ESPN. The team has since received permission to interview Leonhard, per Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette. The Cowboys’ list of potential Eberflus replacements will extend beyond those names, Archer adds.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Wednesday that the team would consider hiring a first-time defensive coordinator (via Archer). It so happens that nobody from the Daronte Jones-Leonhard-Banda trio has held that position in the NFL. However, they’ve all worked as college D-coordinators.

Jones, LSU’s coordinator in 2021, has garnered pro coaching experience with the Dolphins, Bengals and Vikings since 2016. He began his second Vikings stint in 2022, the first year of the Kevin O’Connell era, and has worked under DC Brian Flores since 2023. The 47-year-old Jones interviewed with the Bears and Saints for their DC openings last winter, but those teams passed. He’s now regarded as a potential replacement for Flores, whose contract is up. Flores could leave for another DC job (perhaps in Dallas, which is reportedly interested) or a head coaching gig.

Leonhard, a former NFL defensive back, coordinated Wisconsin’s defense from 2017-22. He made his pro coaching debut in joining Sean Payton‘s staff in Denver a year ago. The 43-year-old Leonhard aided a Broncos defense that finished the 2025 regular season seventh against the pass.

Banda, the former co-DC at Miami and ex-DC at Utah State, has been the Browns’ safeties coach since 2023. The Browns fired head coach Kevin Stefanski, which leaves the 44-year-old’s Banda’s future murky. However, Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is in the running to take over for Stefanski. If that happens, it may give Banda a better chance of remaining in Cleveland.

While the Cowboys would like to meet with Banda, they could also turn their attention elsewhere in the state of Ohio. Matt Patricia, Ohio State’s DC, is a name to watch in the Cowboys’ search, Albert Breer of SI.com relays.

Patricia, who’s coming off his first year with the Buckeyes, was Bill Belichick‘s defensive coordinator in New England from 2012-17 before a rough three-year run as the Lions’ head coach. He most recently worked in the NFL in 2023 as a senior defensive assistant with the Eagles.

Hiring Patricia would give the Cowboys a sixth straight DC with previous NFL head coaching experience. Before Eberflus’ one-year stint, Mike Zimmer, Dan Quinn, Mike Nolan and Rod Marinelli (another ex-Lions HC) held the role for various periods.

14 comments Atlanta Falcons Cleveland Browns Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos Minnesota Vikings

Browns Arrange HC Interviews With Dan Pitcher, Aden Durde

By | at January 9, 2026 8:59 am

Earlier this week, Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher and Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde each received a head coaching interview request from the Browns. Both have accepted.

Per a team announcement, interviews with both Pitcher and Durde will take place today. As required by NFL rules, they will be conducted virtually. These will mark the first two interviews of outside candidates for the position, after Tommy Rees and Jim Schwartz both interviewed for the chance to replace Kevin Stefanski.

To date, Pitcher has only been connected to the Browns’ HC opening. The 38-year-old entered the NFL as a scout with the Colts, but his coaching tenure has consisted entirely of work with the Bengals. Pitcher joined Cincinnati in 2016, and over time he worked his way up to quarterbacks coach. When Brian Callahan departed in 2024 to become the Titans’ head coach, Pitcher replaced him as the Bengals’ offensive coordinator.

Head coach Zac Taylor remained Cincinnati’s play-caller after Pitcher’s promotion. That is likely to continue into 2026, and Taylor does not intend to make any major staff changes this offseason. Pitcher will look into at least one head coaching opportunity during this year’s cycle, though.

Durde, 46, has seen his stock rise over the course of his time as an NFL coach. A former Cowboys and Falcons intern, he drew strong reviews for his work as a position coach during later stints in Atlanta and Dallas. That resulted in Durde’s first coordinator opportunity in 2024. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald has called plays on defense for Seattle, but Durde has served as a key staffer for the unit. In 2025, the NFC’s top seed ranked No. 1 in scoring defense. That has landed Durde at least one interview, but more could follow in the near future.

Here is an updated look at where Cleveland’s HC search stands:

  • Aden Durde, defensive coordinator (Seahawks): To interview 1/9
  • John Harbaugh, former head coach (Ravens): Rumored mutual interest
  • Mike McDaniel, former head coach (Dolphins): Rumored candidate
  • Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interview requested
  • Dan Pitcher, offensive coordinator (Bengals): To interview 1/9
  • Tommy Rees, offensive coordinator (Browns): Interviewed 1/8
  • Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator (Browns): Interviewed 1/8
1 comment Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Seattle Seahawks

Mutual Interest Between John Harbaugh, Browns For HC Job?

By | at January 8, 2026 7:54 pm

John Harbaugh could end up sticking around the AFC North. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns are “definitely doing their diligence” on the former Ravens head coach. Interestingly, that interest may be mutual.

Cabot says that Harbaugh is “believed to have legitimate interest” in the Cleveland job, even with their uncertainty on offense. Besides an opportunity to play his former team twice a year, Cabot notes that there a handful of reasons why Harbaugh could be a logical fit for the organization.

For starters, the coach has deep Cleveland roots. Both John and Jim Harbaugh grew up as Browns fans, and their parents even honeymooned at a Browns game. Both of their parents are Ohio natives, with Jack Harbaugh once playing football at Bowling Green. John Harbaugh, of course, ended up tormenting his favorite childhood team throughout his Baltimore tenure, going 27-8 during his 18 seasons as the Ravens head coach (including a 12-5 record in Cleveland).

Next, Harbaugh also has interest in working alongside a pair of Browns coaches. Cabot says that Harbaugh would consider retaining defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, and the former Ravens head coach is also a big fan of offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. That duo already interviewed for the Browns HC opening this week, and Cabot notes that the franchise would love to keep both of the coaches in some capacity depending on the outcome of their search.

Of course, there are also rumblings that Harbaugh would likely recruit Ravens OC Todd Monken to his next stop, per Armando Salguero of Outkick.com. There have been a handful of reports that Harbaugh’s unwillingness to fire Monken in Baltimore may have contributed to his ouster with the Ravens. Interestingly, the Browns requested a head coach interview with Monken.

To top it all off, Cabot notes that Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has admired Harbaugh for many years. As the team embarks on a thorough search for a replacement for Kevin Stefanski, Harbaugh would seemingly be the organization’s main target. Of course, Harbaugh likely leads the list for most (if not all) of the HC-needy teams.

Cleveland’s current list of candidates includes:

11 comments Cleveland Browns

2026 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker

By | at January 7, 2026 9:50 pm

The Browns, Cardinals, Falcons and Raiders followed the Giants and Titans in firing head coaches, making those calls between the Week 18 conclusion and Black Monday. The Ravens then moved on from John Harbaugh after 18 seasons; two days later, the Dolphins canned Mike McDaniel. Now, following a wild-card loss, the Steelers and Mike Tomlin are separating after 19 years. Here are the candidates connected to all nine of the HC-needy franchises. If more teams make changes, they will be added to the list.

Updated 1-17-26 (3:16pm CT)

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Cleveland Browns

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

10 comments Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New York Giants PFR Originals Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks Tennessee Titans

Browns To Hold HC Interviews With Jim Schwartz, Tommy Rees; Interview Requested With Bengals’ Dan Pitcher

By | at January 7, 2026 11:52 am

The Browns fired head coach Kevin Stefanski on Monday, but it’s possible his replacement will come from the staff he assembled. The team will conduct head coaching interviews with defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees on Thursday, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports.

While the Browns will discuss the position with Schwartz and Rees, they’re also hoping to meet with Bengals O-coordinator Dan Pitcher. The Browns have requested an interview with Pitcher, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic.

The 59-year-old Schwartz is the lone member of this trio with head coaching experience. He spent five years as Detroit’s head coach from 2009-13, though success largely eluded the franchise during that stretch.

The Lions went 10-6 and earned a playoff berth in 2011, but they missed the postseason in every other year under Schwartz. They fired him after he posted a 29-51 record.

A longtime D-coordinator in Tennessee before he moved to Detroit, Schwartz has worked on defensive staffs with the Bills, Eagles, Titans and Browns since 2014. He won Super Bowl LII as the Eagles’ coordinator in 2017. Schwartz has also enjoyed success since heading to Cleveland in 2023.

The Browns finished tops in the league in total defense in Schwartz’s first season, their most recent playoff campaign. Although the team logged a horrid 5-12 record in 2025, its defense ranked fourth in yardage and 14th in points. Defensive end Myles Garrett, the Browns’ franchise player, set the single-season sack record in taking down opposing quarterbacks 23 times. Garrett has made it clear that he loves playing for Schwartz, which could better the coach’s chances of a promotion.

Schwartz’s defense held its own in 2025, but the same wasn’t true for Rees’ offense. The unit, which didn’t find an answer at quarterback among Joe Flacco (traded to the Bengals in October), Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, racked up the second-fewest yards and third-fewest points in the league. It’s worth pointing out that Rees did not handle play-calling duties the entire way. Stefanski handed him those responsibilities in early November.

A former Notre Dame quarterback, Rees served in prominent coaching roles with the Fighting Irish from 2017-22. Rees worked as their quarterbacks coach before adding O-coordinator duties to his resume in 2020. He held the same positions in 2023 at Alabama, where he was an assistant to Nick Saban in the legendary head coach’s last season.

Rees jumped to the pros the next season when Stefanski brought him aboard as a pass game specialist and tight ends coach. He was a candidate to become North Carolina’s head coach last offseason, but that job went to Bill Belichick.

While the 33-year-old Rees also interviewed for Penn State’s HC vacancy last month, the Nittany Lions chose Matt Campbell instead. A few weeks later, Rees will garner some consideration at the NFL level.

Pitcher, 38, began his NFL career as a scout with the Colts in 2012. He worked under current Browns general manager Andrew Berry, then the Colts’ pro scouting coordinator, for four years. That may give Pitcher an advantage in the Browns’ Berry-led coaching search.

A coach since 2016, Pitcher has spent a decade on the Bengals’ staff. He began as an offensive assistant before later becoming the Bengals’ QBs coach in 2020, Joe Burrow‘s rookie year. Burrow has been one of the league’s premier signal-callers when healthy, though injuries have been a frequent issue. He was fully healthy in 2024, Pitcher’s first season as offensive coordinator. The Bengals had a top 10 offense then.

Burrow missed nine games with a toe injury in 2025, leaving Pitcher to work with Flacco for a six-start stretch. The Bengals ended the year a respectable 12th in scoring and a slightly below-average 17th in yards.

If Pitcher doesn’t land a head coaching job this offseason, it seems likely he’ll remain in Cincinnati. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said Monday that he doesn’t expect to make changes to his staff.

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