The Browns are set to hire Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski as Cleveland’s next head coach, according to NFL Network. Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels missed out on the gig, which was reportedly his dream job.
McDaniels will stay in the coaching ranks in New England, where he has been the offensive coordinator from 2005 to 2008 and 2012 to present. He served as the Denver Broncos head coach in 2009 and 2010 with a 11-17 record. After the Broncos fired McDaniels, he spent one year as the St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator before returning to New England.
McDaniels made a verbal commitment to serving as the Indianapolis Colts’ head coach in January 2018, but even with an introductory press conference on the books, he bailed on the organization after New England made a last-ditch effort to retain him.
Sources: The #Browns are planning to hire #Vikings OC Kevin Stefanski as their new head coach. Runner-up last year, winner this year.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 12, 2020
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McDaniels had stiff competition for the Browns’ opening with Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll in the running. But Stefanski got the job, just one day after the Vikings were eliminated from the playoffs.
McDaniels has long been a hot coaching commodity with his offensive brilliance on display alongside quarterback Tom Brady. But it’s not just about Brady — McDaniels’ work with quarterbacks like Matt Cassel in 2008 and Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett in 2016 is also impressive and important. And perhaps with Brady considering a departure from New England in free agency, the Patriots will be glad to retain McDaniels for 2020. They may need McDaniels in the period of transition.
As the head coaching vacancies are all now filled, McDaniels will likely have to wait another year, if he’s going to get a promotion.
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