Todd Haley might not get his next head coaching opportunity this year, but John Dorsey might be grooming him to be one with the Cleveland Browns.
For the first time in seven seasons, a rare span of stability for most persons employed as a coordinator in the NFL, Todd Haley is having to look for a job. The former Kansas City Chiefs head coach and Pittsburgh Steelers coordinator was cut loose after his latest contract in Steel City ran out, making him a free agent hire.
So far rumors have circulated about Haley’s potential landing spots with the Arizona Cardinals and New York Jets. But you can now add the Cleveland Browns to that list as well, thanks to another former Chiefs executive. Former Chiefs general manager John Dorsey is reportedly anxious to bring in Haley as the team’s new offensive coordinator under Hue Jackson.
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Per the report, Haley to the Browns has quite a bit of steam, but of course a lot of this could be agent speak or teams leaking information to try to shift negotiations for a better deal or to create a sense of urgency. The Browns themselves would make for an interesting hire because Dorsey did not hire Jackson, the team’s current head coach. He remained in place despite a single win over the last two full seasons in Cleveland. If next year is just as miserable, it’s hard to imagine Jackson getting a chance to coach into a fourth season.
That might mean that Dorsey sees Haley not only as a nice offensive addition in the present but also as a potential head coach in waiting in case he needs Jackson to be the fall guy. If the Browns take a young quarterback at the top of the draft, losing Jackson could hinder a prospect’s development, so bringing in Haley as a back-up could create continuity while also allowing Dorsey to get his coach in there if the losing continues.
Haley went 19-26 over three seasons in his first head coaching stint in Kansas City, a remarkable record considering the complete lack of quarterback talent he had to work with and the tenuous relationship he had with general manager Scott Pioli.