The Cleveland Browns are the only team left with a head coach opening, but they are still interviewing candidates for the first time.
Eric Bieniemy has done everything he can to make his case to be a first-time head coach in the National Football League. He’s interviewed for every interested team for each of the last two offseasons, including four different teams this year. Now he can only wait and hope that the last job opening available—one with the Cleveland Browns—will be the door that opens for him.
The Browns are the only team left to make a head coaching decision for 2020 in an offseason in which fewer teams than expected had a spot open in the first place. Patience is en vogue these days in NFL circles, at least outside of Cleveland, which means Bieniemy, offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs, had less opportunities than expected in the first place.
The Browns have already interviewed Bieniemy along with a few other candidates and it appears they are not done. New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniel was the latest to interview for the opening and there might be even more on the way. If not, the Browns have already spoken with more candidates than any other franchise this offseason as they search for the right leader to stop the revolving door of coaches and executives.
Bieniemy has served as the Chiefs O.C. now for the last two years but he was the team’s running backs coach for five seasons before that. Andy Reid has praised him and believes he is ready to lead his own team, a wonderful recommendation from someone who has tutored many more NFL head coaches.
Others in the running for the Browns head coaching gig include San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, Baltimore Ravens O.C. Greg Roman, Minnesota Vikings O.C. Kevin Stefanski, Buffalo Bills O.C. Brian Daboll, and Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. The team also interviewed former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy but he was hired by the Dallas Cowboys to replace Jason Garrett.