The Cleveland Browns finally found their head coach Thursday, when they hired former New York Jets and Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. It took the Browns nearly a month and 10 interviews to find a replacement for Rob Chudzinksi‘s replacement, whom they fired Dec. 29.
Pettine spent only one season with the Bills. He worked with Jets head coach Rex Ryan for 11 years in New York and Baltimore before leaving for Buffalo.
The Bills went 6-10 last season, and the Browns were 4-12 under Chudzinski, who lasted only one season in Cleveland.
Pettine’s hiring means Josh McDaniels will stay on as the New England Patriots’ offensive coordinator. McDaniels said on Jan. 14 that he “definitely” would be back with the Patriots next season, but reports came out Wednesday night that he was back in the mix for the Browns’ job. McDaniels interviewed with the Browns during the Patriots’ playoff bye week.
The Patriots lost linebackers coach Pepper Johnson on Tuesday. Offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia retired Wednesday, and tight ends coach George Godsey reportedly is leaving for the Houston Texans to become Bill O’Brien‘s quarterbacks coach.
Getting McDaniels back in 2014 leaves the Patriots with some offensive coaching continuity. McDaniels also serves as the team’s quarterbacks coach.
[twitter-follow screen_name=’DougKyedNESN’ show_count=’yes’]
Have a question for Doug Kyed? Send it to him via Twitter at @DougKyedNESN or send it here.
