After announcing the firing of coach Kevin Stefanski to start this week, following a disappointing 5-12 season, the Cleveland Browns have moves into the replacement phase of the offseason, poking and prodding candidates who could take over as Stefanski, who had been with the team for six seasons, moves on elsewhere. On Friday morning, the Browns announced that they are interviewing Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher for the job.
On Thursday, the Browns interviewed in-house candidates, offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and defense coordinator Jim Schwartz, in their first official talks on the open job.
Pitcher has ties to general manager Andrew Berry, going back to their days with the Colts, where Pitcher was hired by Berry as a 25-year-old in the scouting department back in 2012. Pitcher is only 38, and turns 39 next Tuesday. He was a quarterback at SUNY Cortland and has been with the Bengals since 2016, moving up to quarterbacks coach for star Joe Burrow and then, in 2024, taking over as OC.
On Wednesday, Browns beat reporter Tony Grossi of 850 AM in Cleveland noted  on Twitter/X that Pitcher, who figures to be a top candidate for jobs around the league going forward, was “gaining traction,” as a potential Stefanski replacement.
Browns Eyeing Fired Former Coaches?
Of course, the bigger picture question remains for the Browns: Will they hire an up-and-coming coordinator like Pitcher, or do they have bigger game on the menu? The Browns have also sought interviews with popular Seahawks defensive coordinator Arden Durde, was well as fired Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
Monken is the best-known of those candidates, but it is possible that the Browns look to even bigger names.
On Wednesday, it was reported that the Browns would have interest in bringing in Mike McDaniel after he was fired by the Dolphins. On Twitter/X, Cleveland.com beat writer Mary Kay Cabot wrote: âThe #Browns are interested in Mike McDaniel, who was fired by the #Dolphins, for their head coach job. He was WR coach here under then OC-Kyle Shanahan in â14, and the Browns have long admired his brilliant offensive mind.â
Fellow Cleveland.com writer Dan Labbe also noted that Browns owner Jimmy Haslam could match the $100 million contract given by the Raiders to Jon Gruden if the team pushes forward with its pursuit of ex-Ravens coach John Harbaugh.
Labbe added that Harbaugh could get a, “Jon Gruden-style contract that he signed with the Las Vegas Raiders â which I think was 10 years, $100 million. It was a huge number. Jimmy could offer that.”
GettyHead coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens looks on before the game against the Detroit Lions.
Joe Burrow Credits Dan Pitcher for Rise
For now, though, it is Pitcher’s day, and he would be an interesting fit in Cleveland. His reputation is tied to the excellence of Burrow and, of course, the Browns do not have a Burrow on the roster. Even with the promise shown by Shedeur Sanders, it is more than fair to wonder whether the Browns have anything close to a capable starting quarterback on hand.
But the Browns could have confidence that Pitcher could help maximize whomever they put under center. Burrow himself attested for that.
“Our relationship is as good as it gets,” Burrow said of Pitcher. “I wouldn’t be the player I am today without him. He’s been preparing for this for years. He takes his job very seriously and does it with a lot of passion.”
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Browns Make Announcement on Top Coaching Candidate appeared first on Heavy Sports.