Of all the early candidates to get a look from the Cleveland Browns for their head-coaching position, several have already moved on to second-round interviews. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz had a second interview on Monday, and former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken has his interview on Tuesday. Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase and former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel are also in line for second interviews.
One name who has not come up for a second interview: Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher. While Pitcher has an impressive resume and history, the initial feeling was that he would leave Cincinnati only for a head-coaching job. Traditionally, teams only let coordinators leave if they’re getting a promotion.
But it turns out, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor–who is the play-caller for the team–is willing to let Pitcher leave for an OC’s role in which he can call plays. That could be significant once the Browns look past their head-coaching hire and begin to fill out the rest of the staff.
Browns Could Add Dan Pitcher as Offensive Coordinator
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, “The #Bucs will interview #Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher for their vacant OC job this week, sources say, an opportunity made possible by coach Zac Taylor giving Pitcher permission to speak to teams with play-calling OC opportunities. A significant development.”
That could be a significant development for the Browns, if they were impressed enough by Pitcher to consider him a top OC candidate.
Wrote Mary Kay Cabot, the Browns’ beat writer for Cleveland.com, “This could put him in play for the #Browns OC job too.”
Would Bengals Let Dan Pitcher Stay in Division?
But there are some caveats there for the Browns.
It would be one thing for Taylor to allow Pitcher–who is very popular with quarterback Joe Burrow–to leave to coach in the NFC. But whether he would afford that same mostly lateral move to a team within the AFC North is another question altogether.
And then there’s Pitcher’s view on the Browns situation. Getting a head coaching job would be a welcome step up, even if it is with a team that is struggling the way the Browns have in the past two years, with just eight wins in those seasons.
Throw in the fact that the Browns are without an NFL-caliber starting quarterback, that their offensive line is heading into free agency en masse and that they have a very weak wide-receiver room, and Pitcher might well prefer to either go coach Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay or simply stay in Cincinnati and let Taylor call plays.
Browns Coaching Search Update
With the Browns set for Monken on Tuesday, there’s still a chance that the whole search could be upended if the team decides to go all-in for fired Bills coach Sean McDermott. But as of yet, that’s undetermined. Here’s the overall look at where the coaching search stands now:
- Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, not expected to advance to second round.
- Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, had second interview on January 19.
- Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher.
- Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde.
- Ex-Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, second interview scheduled for January 20.
- Ex-Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, second interview scheduled for January 21.
- Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, second interview planned, but must wait until after NFC Championship Game.
- Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, second interview planned.
- Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, second interview this week.
- Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, first interview request but not scheduled.
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