The Cleveland Browns have officially thrown their hat in the ring for the services of former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported on Saturday, January 10 that Cleveland has contacted Harbaugh’s representation and is in the process of setting up a date and time for an interview.
“You can officially add the Cleveland Browns to the list of teams that have reached out to John Harbaugh to set up an interview for their open head coach position, per source,” Russini wrote on X.
Andrew Berry Offers Insight Into Browns’ Search for Head Coach
GettyCleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry.
Around the same time Russini reported the news about a pending meeting between Harbaugh and the Browns, Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry spoke with media members about his team’s search for former head coach Kevin Stefanski’s replacement.
The Browns fired Stefanski on the first day of their offseason following six years at the helm.
“We’ll be looking for something different than maybe some of the other openings have based on, you know, where they are as a team,” Berry said Saturday, per ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi. “And some good coaches will fit us, but they won’t fit the [Tennessee] Titans. Some will fit the [New York] Giants, and they won’t necessarily fit us.”
“But we’re looking for the right leader and the right partner for our present situation,” Berry continued. “And I have a lot of confidence that we’ll be able to find that person.”
John Harbaugh Makes Big Demands of Any NFL Team Interested in Hiring Him
GettyHead coach John Harbaugh, formerly of the Baltimore Ravens.
If Berry and the Browns believe Harbaugh is a fit for them, they had certainly be ready to pay the price both in terms of the money and power it will take to bring the coach to Cleveland.
Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland reported on Friday what he referred to as the “prerequisites” for Harbaugh to “even be interested” in one of the several open jobs for which he is a leading candidate — and they are significant.
Citing a league insider, Grossi said that Harbaugh is demanding a $20 million annual paycheck, another $10 million for his staff of assistants, final word on all personnel decisions and the leeway to install a general manager of his choosing who would, in this scenario, essentially work for Harbaugh rather than the other way around.
Had Cleveland fired Berry when the team parted ways with Stefanski last week, then meeting Harbaugh’s terms might be considerably simpler. As it stands, Berry appears to be running point in the Browns’ coaching search, which runs counter to the second half of Harbaugh’s aforementioned coaching wish list.
That either means Cleveland is simply doing its due diligence by officially requesting an interview with Harbaugh, but doesn’t plan to offer him the position unless something changes; or the franchise believes it can pitch Harbaugh on a partnership with Berry and then otherwise fulfill the remainder of the Super Bowl-winning coach’s job requirements beyond that particular sticking point.
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