Report: Bill O'Brien, Doug Marrone, Ken Whisenhunt Interviewed With Browns This Week

Report: Bill O’Brien, Doug Marrone, Ken Whisenhunt Interviewed With Browns This Week

by Doug Kyed on Thu, Jan 3, 2013 at 8:45PM

Although the Browns’ first choice for their next head coach is reportedly Oregon’s Chip Kelly, that didn’t stop them from bringing in two other offensive-minded college head coaches this week.

Penn State head coach Bill O’Brien and Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone both had meetings with Cleveland, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The team will interview Kelly on Friday after the Fiesta Bowl, according to the report.

O’Brien came to Penn State from the New England Patriots, where he served as offensive coordinator for just one season in 2011. The 43-year-old coach led the Nittany Lions to a surprising 8-4 record in his first season as a head coach.

Marrone has led Syracuse since 2009. He’s mounted a 25-25 record during his four years with the Orange. Before coming to Syracuse, he was the Saints’ offensive coordinator from 2006-2008.

The Browns also interviewed former Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt on Thursday, according to ESPN.com. Whisenhunt led the Cardinals to a 45-51 record during his six-year stint in Arizona that included a trip to the Super Bowl in 2008.