Search for head coach will have ‘due diligence’

Williams, Kitchens poised for head coach interviews

Gregg Williams will get his chance Jan. 1 to interview for the Browns’ head coaching job.

Gregg Williams will get his chance Jan. 1 to interview for the Browns’ head coaching job, and at some point offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens will get his chance, General Manager John Dorsey said Dec. 31.

Dorsey began his post-season news conference by commending Williams for leading the Browns to a 5-3 record as interim head coach, but he made it clear the record alone isn’t enough to gain Williams long-term employment. He also said the Bountygate episode that still haunts Williams from the time Williams was defensive coordinator of the Saints from 2009-11 won’t disqualify him from getting the Browns job.

“I want to see his over-arching vision and plan for this organization moving forward,” Dorsey said.

“I want to be able to hear his thoughts on the team, but I also want to explore multiple options out there in the National Football League and just see who fits in this organization. There might be some guys we don’t know about yet.”

Dorsey said the next head coach will hire his own staff, which means Dorsey won’t demand Kitchens stays on as offensive coordinator.

So why not just stick with Williams as head coach, keep Kitchens as offensive coordinator and end the search before it begins? Dorsey’s answer: Why not look around?

“I want to be able to see everything,” Dorsey said. “You don’t want to sell yourself short. Why not see other people out there? You want to do your due diligence. Why not go look at everybody?”

The Bengals, Buccaneers, Dolphins, Jets, Cardinals, Packers and Broncos fired their respective head coaches on Dec. 30 or 31. Basically all eight teams will be vying for the same coaching candidates.

Dorsey is leading a search committee, but he would not say who else is on the committee, nor would he confirm a report from Adam Schefter of ESPN that the Browns have asked permission to interview Patriots defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

Rumors fly like windblown paper whenever a coaching search occurs. The Toronto Sun reported the Browns have already

reached out to Mike McCarthy, who was fired Dec. 3 after 13 years as Packers head coach. Dorsey, as a member of the Packers’ front office, and McCarthy worked seven years together in Green Bay.

Alex Marvez of Sirius XM Radio reported the Browns are interested in talking to Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak for their head coaching vacancy.

Rapoport is reporting the Browns have requested permission to interview Saints tight ends coach Dan Campbell and Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski and that Colts offensive coordinator Nick Siranni is on the Browns’ short list of candidates.

Jeff Darlington of ESPN has linked fired Dolphins head coach Adam Gase to the Browns through retired quarterback Peyton Manning being friends with Browns owner Jimmy Haslam. Gase was Manning’s offensive coordinator with the Broncos.

Tom Pellissero of NFL Network is reporting the Browns have asked permission to interview Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.

Dorsey won’t confirm any reports.

“You want a man of character, a guy who can instill leadership in these young men, a guy who is a collaborative thinker, a guy who is a continuous learner, a guy who is consistent on a day-in, dayout basis who those players can look up to and go, ‘You know what? I’ll follow that guy anywhere,’ ” Dorsey said. “Those are the type guys you’re looking for.

“Let’s interview all the guys, come together and

realize what’s best for this organization moving forward. This is a very hard decision. It’s going to be very deliberate.”

Dorsey has set no timeline for hiring a head coach; how long the search lasts could depend on whether a candidate is on the staff of a playoff team and how deep into the playoffs the team goes.

Whoever gets the job will be the Browns’ ninth full-time head coach since 1999. He will also be inheriting a much better team than any of his predecessors took over.

The Browns were 7-8-1 in 2018. They were 2-14 in 2000 when Butch Davis took over from Chris Palmer, 4-12 in 2004 when Romeo Crennel was hired in 2005, 4-12 in 2008 when Eric Mangini replaced Crennel, 5-11 in 2010 when Pat Shurmur replaced Mangini, 5-11 in 2012 when Rob Chudzinski followed Shurmur, 3-13 in Chudzinski’s only season, and 3-13 in Mike Pettine’s second season in 2015. Hue Jackson took over in 2016 was 3-36-1 when he was fired and replaced by Williams midway through 2018.

“I think this is a very desirable franchise for head coaching candidates or any coaches,” Dorsey said, “You have a young quarterback (Baker Mayfield), a young pass rusher (Myles Garrett) — you have a young team, a very dynamic team. You have assets in place with regards to the salary cap and draft. You have strong, committed ownership.

“You have a committed fan base. There’s a bright future with this organization. Hopefully they can see what we see here.”