Most 30th birthdays involve a party; Grant Udinski spent his (Jan. 12th) receiving an invite to interview for the Cleveland Browns head coaching job.
Just seven years ago, the Jaguars’ offensive coordinator was sleeping in his car in a Texas Walmart parking lot to save money as a Baylor graduate assistant. Today, he is one of the hottest rising stars in NFL coaching circles.
If hired to replace Kevin Stefanski, Udinski would break Sean McVay’s record as the youngest head coach in NFL history.
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Here are five things you need to know about why he could be GM Andrew Berry's choice to fix the Browns:
The Quarterback Whisperer: Udinski is fresh off orchestrating Trevor Lawrence’s career-best 2025 season (4,007 passing yards, 38 total TDs). Before that, he was the secret weapon behind Sam Darnold’s 2024 Pro Bowl revival with the Vikings.
The "Prodigy" Pedigree: Despite his age, he has already worked under offensive gurus Kevin O’Connell and Liam Coen. He brings a modern, creative "player-first" scheme that the Browns analytics heavy front office is sure to love.
Unmatched Work Ethic: His "car-to-coaching" story isn't just fluff; it’s a testament to someone who worked for everything he's gotten.
Defensive DNA: Uniquely for an OC, Udinski played defensive end at Towson. He designs offenses specifically to exploit how modern defences operate.
The Cultural Reset: At 30, Udinski relates to young stars, like Shedeur Sanders, in a way older candidates may not, offering the "McVay-style" energy Cleveland’s locker room needs.
Udinski is the ninth candidate to receive an invitation to interview for Cleveland's head coach vacancy as of Tuesday Jan. 13th.
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