Source: Browns are interested in Haley as OC

The Pittsburgh Steelers decided Todd Haley had run their offense long enough, so they chose to not renew his contract when it expired after the 2017 season.

Now Haley is a leading candidate to take charge of the Browns’ offense, which has nowhere to go but up after finishing last in points scored (234) on the way to an 0-16 record in 2017.

The Browns are in “serious talks” with Haley about making him their offensive coordinator, according to a report by Chris Mortensen of ESPN. A source close to the situation confirmed the Browns’ interest in Haley is strong.

Haley might have a bigger target in mind. He has not been interviewed for the job yet, but former Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner is endorsing Haley for the vacant head coaching job in Arizona.

Warner was the Cardinals’ quarterback when Haley was their offensive coordinator in 2007 and 2008.

“I have watched him grow as a football coach and as a man, and I know any player that truly wants to achieve greatness by being pushed daily would welcome the chance to play for Todd,” Warner told the Arizona Republic. “I know if I had anything left in this old body, I would sign up tomorrow to work and play for Todd again.

“There is no doubt with what Todd has done with players and offenses in the past that he would be an asset to any organization in terms of improving them on the football field. In my opinion, the hesitation with Todd as a head coach is based off the past perception of his sideline interactions with players and coaches. I believe Todd would be the first to acknowledge some of those interactions could have been handled differently.”

That hesitation the Cardinals are showing apparently isn’t dampening the Browns’ enthusiasm. Haley would likely call plays with the Browns.

Haley was the Steelers offensive coordinator from 2012-2017. He was in essence fired after the Steelers scored 42 points but lost, 45-42, to the Jaguars in a divisional playoff game on Jan. 14.

The Steelers finished third in total offense in 2017 (the Browns were 24th) and eighth in points scored. With Haley in charge, the Steelers were 22nd in scoring in 2012, tied for 16th in 2013, seventh in 2014, tied for fourth in 2015 and tied for 10th in 2016.

“I have made the decision to not renew the contract for offensive coordinator Todd Haley,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said in a statement on Jan. 17. “I would like to thank Todd for his contributions to our offense the past six years, and we wish him the best in his coaching future.”

Of course, Haley had the benefit of having Ben Roethlisberger as his quarterback and Antonio Brown as a Steelers receiver when he was designing game plans and calling plays. Whomever Browns head coach Hue Jackson hires, if he does hire an offensive coordinator, won’t be inheriting a similar situation.

The Browns have also talked to fired Giants head coach Ben McAdoo and Texans quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan about filling a title that did not exist in 2016 and 2017 when Jackson was head coach, designed the offense and called plays. The Browns have also shown interest in fired Titans head coach Mike Mularkey, according to reports. But Haley could already be the favorite to win the job. It would explain why the Browns haven’t already offered it to one of the other candidates.

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