The top two candidates for the Cleveland Browns coaching jobs are University of Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, per Ian Rapoport who covers all of the NFL coaching rumors for The NFL Network. According to Adam Schefter, the Browns are also interested in interviewing Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin.
According to Rapoport, there is “mutual interest” between Stoops and Browns management and that Stoops is “more open than ever to the idea of jumping to the NFL.” Tony Softli of ESPN Insider has reported that Stoops has the inside track for the job.
Stoops, 53, is coming off a big win over Alabama on Thursday in which the Sooners upset the longtime number one seed 45-31 to finish the season 11-2. Stoops has coached Oklahoma since 1999, winning one National Championship, eight Big 12 Championships, and two Coach of the Year awards.
The Browns are also expected to interview Josh McDaniels on Saturday. McDaniels, 37, has been Bill Belichik’s offensive guy since 2011 and also worked as a personnel assistant, defensive coaching assistant, quarterbacks coach, and offensive coordinator for the Pats between 2001 and 2009. In 2009, he was hired as the head coach of the Broncos but didn’t even last two seasons, finishing 8-8 that year and going 3-9 before being fired before the 2010 season was even over.
Former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel was previously linked to the Browns but both sides have confirmed those rumors to be untrue.
