The reports of John Harbaugh signing with the New York Giants means the Cleveland Browns must officially pivot their head coaching search.
GM Andrew Berry has cast a wide net when it comes to candidate interviews. The majority so far are in the young, rising star coordinator vein, primarily with an offensive focus. Grant Udinski (Jaguars OC), Dan Pitcher (Bengals OC), and Nate Scheelhaase (Rams pass game coordinator) are a few of Berry's targets.
However, ESPN Cleveland's Tony Grossi wrote Thursday that he believes the Browns need to lean in the opposite direction. That this situation "demands an established disciplinarian", and that, "this team doesn't need to break in another up-and-comer getting his first crack at head coach."
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This sentiment echoes a raw media scrum with Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward following Kevin Stefanski’s firing. Ward didn't hold back, stating the locker room needs "assertiveness" and "accountability".
"We need someone to hold guys to a higher standard," Ward told reporters. "We didn't play complementary football... We need someone who is going to hold people accountable when they aren't doing what they're supposed to do."
As the Browns look to continue to rebuild off a strong 2025 draft class, here are three experienced NFL head coaches that should be at the top of the hiring list:
| Candidate | Pro | Con |
| Jim Schwartz | Total locker room respect; defense wants him to stay. | History as a head coach in Detroit (29-51) was underwhelming. Would he know how to help the struggling offense? |
| Mike McDaniel | Brilliant offensive mind; could unlock the Browns' stagnant scoring. | Might be seen as too "player-friendly" for a team seeking a disciplinarian. |
| Mike McCarthy | A winning pedigree and Super Bowl experience. | Often criticized for clock management and conservative late-game calls. |
Will Berry and owner Jimmy Haslam give the Browns elite defense the type of seasoned head coach they're asking for, or go in that "young up-and-comer" direction that Grossi warned about?
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